Monthly Archives: June 2011
More on Medicaid: Blended Rates
| June 30, 2011 | Posted by Alison Klurfeld under Blog |
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With enhanced FMAP rates expiring tomorrow, another potential Medicaid payment change could further shift costs from the federal government to the states. The Obama administration has proposed combining the various matching rates that states receive for different populations into one “blended rate” and eliminating state Medicaid provider taxes. Right now,… more
6th Circuit Court Upholds Individual Mandate
| June 29, 2011 | Posted by Kiwon Yoo under Blog |
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The 6th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the ACA’s individual mandate, which requires most Americans to have health insurance. The 6th Circuit upheld a lower court ruling in a suit brought by the Thomas More Law Center. The three-judge panel, which includes two Republican nominees, voted 2-1 in favor of… more
Just in Time: California Has a Budget
| June 29, 2011 | Posted by Ashley Cohen under Blog |
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Last night, lawmakers approved an $86B package using spending cuts, tax revenues and new fees. Democratic lawmakers used their majority vote to fill in the remaining $9.6B deficit without renewals to state sales and vehicle taxes (set to expire Thursday). The end of these taxes will save the average Californian… more
Budget Update
| June 28, 2011 | Posted by Christina Vane under Blog |
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Yesterday, Governor Brown and Democratic lawmakers agreed on a budget plan that does not include a special election on taxes, but rather relies on assumed tax revenues. After having their initial proposal vetoed by Brown, legislators have refocused to find common ground in order to close the remaining $9.8 billion… more
Exchange Board Approves Level I Grant Application
| June 28, 2011 | Posted by Ashley Cohen under Blog |
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The California Health Benefit Exchange board met as a 5-member entity for the first time this morning in Sacramento. The Board and public were pleased to welcome Dr. Robert Ross of the California Endowment as the final appointment. The purpose of this morning’s meeting was to approve the California’s Level… more
Reconsidering Regulatory Separation
| June 24, 2011 | Posted by Alison Klurfeld under Blog |
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A new report from the California Health Care Foundation spurred discussion yesterday about California’s dual regulators of health insurance. For the past decade, California’s Department of Insurance (CDI) and Department of Managed Health Care (DMHC) shared oversight of the health insurance market even as distinctions between PPOs and HMOs blurred.… more
Dr. Robert Ross Named Fifth Exchange Board Member
| June 23, 2011 | Posted by Kiwon Yoo under Blog |
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Dr. Robert K. Ross, president and CEO of The California Endowment, has been appointed the fifth and final member of the Exchange Board by the California Senate Rules Committee. Dr. Ross previously served as the director of Health and Human Services for San Diego County, and currently serves on the… more
The Changing Face of Medicaid
| June 23, 2011 | Posted by Kandis Driscoll under Blog |
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Medicaid has undergone a number of cuts and proposed changes at the federal and state level. On July 1st, the FMAP for Medi-Cal will revert back to 50% from the enhanced 62% match that resulted from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). This decreased match marks the… more
Anthem Blue Cross Settles Lawsuit
| June 22, 2011 | Posted by Alison Klurfeld under Blog |
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Anthem Blue Cross recently settled a class-action lawsuit filed on behalf of 122,000 individual policyholders who alleged that the insurer violated state law by closing their plans to new members without offering comparable coverage options. The company admitted no wrongdoing, but will now offer consumers the option of remaining in… more
Exchange: Level 1 Grant App. Nears Completion
| June 20, 2011 | Posted by Alison Klurfeld under Blog |
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HBEX held a webinar today on the Federal Level 1 Establishment Grant. It expands on a preliminary outline shared at the most recent board meeting. Patricia Powers, Acting Administrative Officer, presented a comprehensive breakdown of the Exchange’s $40 million request to enable planning activities between July 1, 2011 and June… more
