With less than one month before open enrollment (November 1 – January 31), the Board focused mainly on this year’s research-driven “no wrong door” approach to maximizing enrollment and facilitating thoughtful plan selection using shop and compare tools, quality ratings, and reaching out to enrollees who look like they could benefit from enhanced silver plans […]
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 […]
Covered California Board Meeting: Highlights from August 20, 2015
This Covered California board meeting featured a discussion of a vision benefit proposal and agents’ payments and responsibilities, both for action next month; the release of rates for 2016, an update on the redesigned navigator program; and a hearty welcome to new Board member and former Senator and Democratic Party Chair Art Torres (see his […]
Office of Health Equity Releases Plan to Promote Health & Mental Health Equity
This blog was written by Kate Burch, Director of the California LGBT HHS Network. Last week the Office of Health Equity (OHE) released Portrait of Promise: The California Statewide Plan to Promote Health and Mental Health Equity, a demographic report and strategic plan addressing how socioeconomic factors impact the health of California’s diverse communities. One of […]
Highlights from California Health Policy Forum Panel on Provider Information Sharing
The California Health Policy Forum held a briefing last week at the Capitol entitled, “Enabling Information Sharing Among California Health Providers: What’s Next?” involving academics, the Department of Health Care Services and community clinics. Panelists provided an overview of the federal and state health information technology (health IT) landscape and perspectives on what’s next in […]
Health Reform 2.0: New Efforts on Value-Based Health Care
Health Access, California Pan-Ethnic Health Network (CPEHN), and Consumers Union and other groups are teaming up to improve health and health equity for California consumers through transparency, benefit design, and Medi-Cal reforms. Through our new Value-Based Health Care initiative, supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and working with the national group Community Catalyst, Health Access and CPEHN […]
Health Committees Vote….
This week we had key policy committee hearings, in advance of the end-of-the-month deadlines to pass bills. Yesterday, in the California Assembly Health Committee, numerous key bills advanced. Surprise Bills: Our sponsored legislation, AB533(Bonta) passed on a 17-0 vote, to prevent consumers from getting out-of-network bills when going to a in-network hospital or facility. Even […]
Covered California Board Meeting April 16, 2015: Highlights
The Covered California board met on April 16, the first meeting for new board members Marty Morgenstern and Genoveva Islas. Meeting materials for the April 16 meeting are available here: http://board.coveredca.com/meetings/2015/4-15/index.html Cost Sharing on Specialty Prescription Drugs The most contentious issue at the Covered California board meeting was the one that was postponed, on how to design […]
Health Access Priorities for California’s Waiver Renewal
Health Access is pleased to present a new white paper, Medi-Cal Reform 2.0: Health Access Priorities for California’s Next Medicaid Waiver, as a discussion draft. We invite all stakeholders, especially our allied consumer and community advocates, to look it over and submit any comments to jhilman@health-access.org. In your feedback, please indicate whether we can include your comments on a […]
Office of the Patient Advocate Releases 2014-2015 Health Care Quality Report Cards
Office of the Patient Advocate Releases 2014-2015 Health Care Quality Report Cards The much anticipated 2014-2015 edition of the OPA’s Health Care Quality Report Cards comes months ahead of the usual release date so that the information can be of use to consumers in the coming open enrollment season. The OPA release actually includes three […]