Crosspost: Why I’m speaking out on the pending Catholic Hospital Mergers
This week on the Health Access blog, we are cross-posting an important and personal story from our colleague Dannie Ceseña, Program Coordinator for the California LGBTQ Health and Human Services Network (a project of Health Access). For over 30 years, Health Access has advocated for policies that protect patients when the health industry proposes to […]
Legislative deadline week–from Prescription Drug Prices to Hospital Costs to Single-Payer
This week is deadline week in the state legislature, where bills need to be passed by Friday out of the house of origin in order to proceed for the year. Both the California Senate and Assembly are undergoing marathon sessions throughout the week to consider and vote on hundreds of bills. In health care, the […]
DHCS Stakeholder Advisory Committee Digs Deeper into Medi-Cal 2020 Waiver, SB 75 Implementation (Health4Kids), and Other Care Transformation Initiatives
This blog was written by Tam M. Ma (Policy Counsel) and Judi Hilman (Director of Special Projects) DHCS held its quarterly Stakeholder Advisory Committee today, the first time since California’s Medi-Cal 2020 waiver was approved at the end of December, covering a range of topics, including the waiver renewal, SB 75 implementation of Health for […]
Covered CA Board Takes Big Steps on Standardized Benefit Design and Quality/Equity Measures; Considers New Barriers to Special Enrollment
Thursday’s Covered California Board meeting, the first since the last day of open enrollment 2013, offered a deep dive on the standardized benefit designs and the quality/equity framework that will guide contracting with insurers for the next 3-year cycle (2017-2019), and a heated discussion about the new documentation requirements that insurers are calling for to qualify […]
Attorney General Approves Daughters of Charity Hospital Deal, with Key Conditions
Yesterday afternoon, California Attorney General Kamala Harris approved the restructuring and support agreement between six Daughters of Charity Health System hospitals and BlueMountain Capital Management. The Attorney General’s approval includes significant conditions that keep key services open for 10 years, ensuring charity care levels at historical levels, and $180 million in capital improvements. Health Access […]
Contra Costa Cares: Board of Supervisors Vote 4-1 to Create Primary Care Program for Remaining Uninsured
Earlier today the Contra Costa Board of Supervisors voted 4-1 to authorize a new $1 million pilot program to extend primary health care services for an estimated 3,000 adult immigrants, including undocumented Contra Costa residents. The care will be provided through county-based clinics, serving approximately one-fifth of uninsured adults in need of the services. The Contra […]
Monterey Board of Supervisors Unanimously Approves $500K Pilot Program of Targeted Specialty Care Services for Remaining Uninsured
Building on recent victories for the #Health4All movement throughout California and at the county levels, yesterday the Monterey Board of Supervisors voted on a 5-0 vote to authorize a new $500,000 pilot program to extend limited specialty health care services to the remaining uninsured, including undocumented Monterey residents. The program will cover the cost of […]
End of Session Recap: Legislation to Stop Surprise Medical Bills Stalls in California Assembly; Other Key Patient Protection Measures Advance to Governor’s Desk
The California Assembly adjourned Saturday morning without passing legislation to prevent patients from facing surprise out-of-network bills after they get care in in-networks hospitals or other facilities. AB533 (Bonta), sponsored by Health Access California, would have held consumers harmless for surprise bills reflecting out-of-network charges that were outside of their control (See separate AB533 fact sheet). A broad coalition […]
Close-up on AB 533 (Bonta): Protecting Consumers from Surprise Medical Bills
Consumers know they can save money and limit their out-of-pocket costs by going to an in-network provider. Too often, however, consumers who do the right thing by going to an in-network hospital or facility end up getting a surprise bill by a doctor who turns out not to be in-network. According to a recent survey […]