Yesterday, the California State Assembly and State Senate voted to pass a 2021-2022 state budget that includes funding for a more universal, equitable, and affordable, health care system. While the Legislature is in agreement on this version of the budget, negotiations continue with Governor Newsom on a final deal. On June 1, the state legislature […]
Prop 56 Health Advocates Deliver Giant Invoice from California Taxpayers to Big Tobacco
In the week leading up to the election, supporters of Proposition 56 rallied across the state to call on Big Tobacco to take responsibility for the $3.5 billion burden they place on the state’s Medi-Cal program. In events from the Central Valley to Southern California to Sacramento, health advocates spotlighted the cost of tobacco-related diseases–and how Prop […]
Health Advocates Protest Big Tobacco’s Lies
Yesterday, Health Access California joined the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, American Lung Association, the American Heart Association, Planned Parenthood, and other health and children’s advocacy groups to protect the tobacco industry’s lies about Prop 56, chanting outside the California lobbying offices of cigarette maker Altria. Outside of Big Tobacco’s front door, 5,600 toe tags were […]
New Health Access Report Details Dramatic Expansions in California’s County Health Care Safety-Net
Today, Health Access released a new report detailing the dramatic changes to California’s health care safety net programs at the county level. As the Affordable Care Act implementation has cut the number of uninsured Californians in half and the state has taken additional steps to cover all children, many California counties have extended their health […]
Wonkery for Your Week
We wanted to spotlight two of the recent Health Wonk Reviews, a biweekly compendium of the best from the health policy blogosphere. Last week, Charles Gaba at ACAsignups.net (the best place to track Obamacare enrollment nationally) had a very California-heavy edition, with posts about Covered California’s quality initiatives, our death-with-dignity law, and our post about […]
Tobacco-Prevention Initiatives: Saving Lives and Money
Did you know? Every year, nearly 40,000 Californians die needlessly from tobacco-related diseases. Big Tobacco lures 16,800 California children a year into this deadly addiction, most of them children of color. One out of every three kids who starts smoking will ultimately die as a direct result. The healthcare cost of tobacco use is $13 […]
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 […]
Federal Officials Approve New “Medi-Cal 2020” Waiver Renewal
Earlier today the U.S. Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) officially approved California’s “Medi-Cal 2020” waiver renewal for the next five years, providing new resources and new flexibility to deliver better care for the millions of low-income Californians who rely on Medi-Cal for their health coverage. The new waiver also includes support for a […]
Hearing on “Public Health Impacts of Tobacco Use in California: Problems and Solutions”
The Conference Committee on AB2X 1 (Bonta) and SB2X 2 (Ed Hernandez) held an Informational hearing to discuss the Public Health Impacts of Tobacco Use in California and Problems and Solutions on Thursday, December 17, 2015 in Oakland, California. There were close to 100 people in attendance, constituents and heads of community and state organizations, […]
Covered CA Board Meeting November 19, 2015: Highlights for Consumer Advocates
This week’s Covered California Board meeting, the last for 2015, focused on the Covered CA bus tour and related OE3 campaigns; early results from Open Enrollment 3 or OE3; how the Section 1332 waiver (an option within the Affordable Care Act to waive certain ACA provisions to demonstrate a new principle or model at the […]