05/13/2013
Garry Maisel, CEO of Western Health Advantage, said at a Drexel University-sponsored event last week that enrollees in individual health plans offered through California's health insurance exchange next year will see premiums grow significantly from current rates. Sacramento Business Journal.
05/15/2013
Covered California has revealed the 48 recipients of $37 million in federal grants to help promote the insurance exchange. Recipients of the grants -- which range from $250,000 to $1.25 million -- include health foundations and not-for-profit organizations. Los Angeles Times et al.
05/13/2013
Experts say that hospitals in low-income areas could be hardest hit by a program that aims to curb Medicare readmissions. Most of the California hospitals that have received the program's maximum penalty serve low-income patients. KPCC's "KPCC News."
05/15/2013
Gov. Brown has released his revised fiscal year 2013-2014 spending plan, which is a $1.3 billion reduction from his initial proposal. The new plan anticipates $1.2 billion more in Medi-Cal spending to implement health reform provisions. New York Times et al.
05/15/2013
HHS and the Department of Justice have announced that 89 medical industry professionals have been charged with allegedly defrauding Medicare of about $233 million. In Los Angeles, 13 individuals were charged with various scams totaling $23 million. AP/Washington Post et al.
05/13/2013
Gov. Brown and Democrats disagree over how to expand Medi-Cal and how much indigent care funding should be provided to counties. Compared with Brown, Democrats want to expand Medi-Cal coverage to more residents and reimburse physicians and hospitals at a higher rate. Los Angeles Times.
05/14/2013
A proposed rule from CMS details an Affordable Care Act-mandated payment cut for hospitals that treat a disproportionate share of low-income patients. CMS proposed basing the cuts for the next two years on each states' percentage of uninsured residents. Modern Healthcare et al.
05/16/2013
Democratic lawmakers and patient advocates seek to restore funding for California's health care and safety-net programs. Gov. Brown's revised fiscal year 2013-2014 budget plan does not boost funding for such programs. San Jose Mercury News.
05/14/2013
Observers wonder how Gov. Brown will use $4.5 billion in extra tax revenue in his revised fiscal year 2013-2014 budget plan. Legislative Democrats say they want to restore certain safety-net programs, but Brown has argued for fiscal discipline. Sacramento Bee, KPCC's "KPCC News."
05/15/2013
This week, the House is expected to vote on a bill that would fully repeal the Affordable Care Act. A House GOP spokesperson says the timing of the vote partially is intended to provide freshmen Republicans with a chance to formally weigh in on the issue. New York Times, Roll Call.
05/15/2013
The Congressional Budget Office has lowered its estimates for the number of individuals and businesses likely to be affected by the Affordable Care Act's taxes and mandates. CBO also reduced its projections for U.S. spending on Medicare and Medicaid. The Hill's "Healthwatch" et al.
05/14/2013
Gov. Brown's administration has filed a notice of appeal in the U.S. Supreme Court over a prison population cap designed to improve inmate health care. State officials say such care now exceeds constitutional standards. AP/U-T San Diego et al.
05/17/2013
California's secretary of state has designated the state's health insurance exchange as a voter registration hub, making California the first state to do so. Some Republicans say targeting specific populations could create a partisan advantage. Sacramento Bee.
05/16/2013
Mental health providers in the Central Valley region still are in the planning stages of preparing for an influx of patients under the Affordable Care Act. Some providers say they are waiting on the federal government for more guidance on expanding services. HealthyCal.
05/14/2013
A new report finds that the rate of job-based health insurance in Massachusetts increased by about one percentage point during the five-year period after the state's health reform law took effect, while the national rate decreased by close to 6%. The Hill's "Healthwatch," Bloomberg.