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Child-Centered Health Homes in California

[The following post was written by Alison Klurfeld, ITUP's Summer Policy Associate] A webinar today from Ch1ldren Now discussed how California can support and implement patient-centered medical homes (PCMHs) for children.  Although physician groups, academics, and advocates support PCMHs for all kinds of patients, the concept was originally developed in… more

New ITUP Website

Hi All, Thank you for your patience as we transfer data to our new website. We hope that you will find this new site user-friendly and easy to navigate. If you received our blog on an RSS feed, please make sure to update your settings to receive updates from the… more

CaliforniACA – July Newsletter

Since the passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), California has taken important steps to implement various provisions of the new legislation. Insure the Uninsured Project (ITUP) is pleased to offer monthly newsletters aimed to keep policymakers, stakeholders and the media informed of California’s progress in implementing… more

July Exchange Board Meeting: NPRM Released, ED Update, Strategic Visioning, Related Legislation

The California Health Benefit Exchange Board held their July monthly meeting in Sacramento on Friday. They announced that the Level 1 Establishment Grant application has been submitted to the federal government. A call is scheduled for next week to review the application. Other announcements included the hiring of consultants for… more

New Report: Changes in Federal and State Spending Due to ACA

A new report from the Urban Institute outlines state savings as a result of ACA over the next decade. The report details how the overall state savings due to ACA will outweigh the costs. Here are some overall highlights: Between 2014 and 2019, the federal government will spend $704-$743B more… more

IOM Panel Recommends Contraceptive Coverage

The Institute of Medicine released a report on Tuesday recommending that all insurers be required to cover contraceptives as one of the preventive services under health reform, allowing women to receive birth control, including Plan B and other emergency contraceptives, at no cost. The ACA mandates that insurers must provide… more

ACOs Develop Throughout California

The following blog was written by Sara Watson, ITUP’s Regional Workgroup Manager. Accountable care organization (ACO) pilots for California’s privately insured are being developed with major health plans, including Anthem, Blue Shield, Aetna and United, as well as payors like the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS). In 2010, CalPERS… more

My Thoughts on Deficits

We cannot live with them; we cannot live without them. Classical Keynesian economic theory explains that government must deficit spend during an economic recession to restore growth, then run a surplus during boom times to prevent over-heating the economy and stoking inflation. During economic recessions, we need to spend on… more

Medi-Cal Expansion: Excitement and Concern from California’s Policymakers and Stakeholders

LIHPs in counties across the state are beginning to enroll newly eligible patients into Medi-Cal, which opens to all California citizens and 5 year legal permanent residents with incomes under 133% FPL on January 1, 2014. With more than 3 million Californians expected to become eligible for the program, Medi-Cal… more

Creating a System of Care for California’s Dual Eligible Population

Today’s guest blogger is former ITUP Policy Director, Adam Dougherty. Adam is now a second year medical student at UC Davis. Greetings from UC Davis School of Medicine! Though I am no longer in the health policy world full time, it has been a real privilege living in Sacramento, which… more