California Extends Spousal Protections to Same-Sex Couples Applying for Medi-Cal LTC benefits
California’s Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) has officially released ACWDL 12-36 which implements AB 641 (Feuer) and extends the spousal protections now available to married, opposite-sex couples, to same-sex spouses and registered domestic partners through the transfer of property…
LSNC Sues the County Over Refusal to Provide Indigent Medical Care
The Sacramento Bee reports of a lawsuit filed in Superior Court, in which Legal Services of Northern California (LSNC) says the county is denying medical care to General Assistance applicants waiting for grant approval, in violation of state law. The…
New Study: California Has 2nd Highest Rate of Uninsured Children
A new study from Georgetown Health Policy Institute Center reported that California was second in the rate of uninsured children. The report found that about 745,000 children living in California, or about 8%, did not have health insurance in 2011….
A New Health Market Study Shows that Sacramento Health Systems Weathered the Economic Downturn Well
According to a new study released by the Center for Studying Health System Change, the Sacramento health market weathered the storm much better than most California counterparts. Despite the of economic downturn, Sacramento hospitals and health care leaders turned to…
New Report Details Problems Switching From Fee for Service to Managed Care Plans
According to a new report, California encountered several problems during a year-long effort to transition 240,000 Medi-Cal beneficiaries from fee-for-service to managed care plans. The federally approved demonstration project involved 240,000 low-income seniors and people with disabilities. The Medi-Cal beneficiaries either selected…
New Report: California Had 9th Highest Rate of Uninsured under 65
A new Census Bureau report found that 6.7 million of California’s 32.5 million residents under age 65, or 20.7%, did not have health insurance in 2010. According to the report, Texas had the nation’s highest rate of residents without insurance in…
Recent Field Poll: Over Half of California Voters Have Trouble Paying for Health Care
In a poll released this month, 53% of California voters have difficulty paying for health care. 17% of California voters over age 65 reported that it was “very difficult” to pay their health care costs.
Low Provider Reimbursement Rates Could Hinder Medi-Cal Expansion
In a recent California Healthline report, experts worry that low Medi-Cal reimbursements rates will continue to force more doctors out of Medi-Cal program. Without additional doctors accepting Medi-Cal, California will not be able to meet the needs of the newly…
Supreme Court Upholds Health Reform – Now What?
Last week the United States Supreme Court upheld the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Health Reform will continue forward in California. To find out more information about your rights as an employee, employer, or as an insured or uninsured person, please…
Gov. Brown’s Budget Could Limit Health Access for Rural Children
According to a recent California Healthline article, Governor Brown’s proposed budget forces more children into Medi-Cal and out of Healthy Families. According to experts, more rural doctors only accept Healthy Families due to the higher reimbursements rates. Forcing more children…