The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, the landmark federal health reform legislation of 2010, makes a wide variety of changes to the existing health system in the United States. California is currently implementing the Affordable Care Act and preparing the health system for necessary changes. On this page, you will find information about federal and state health policy and regulations.
Governor Brown Announces 2013-14 California Budget Proposal
Governor Brown released his budget proposal for the 2013-14 Fiscal Year and announced that the State’s budget would be balanced for the first time since the Great Recession began in 2008. Brown also announced that California will implement the Medicaid eligibility expansion in the ACA, which the Supreme Court made… more
New Mexico Republican Governor Susana Martinez Announces State Will Move Forward with ACA Medicaid Expansion
New Mexico Governor Susana Martinez announced Tuesday that the Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) will move forward in the Land of Enchantment. She becomes only the second Republican governor to support the program’s expansion to 138% of federal poverty (roughly $14,856 in 2012) since the Supreme Court… more
UC Study Finds Medi-Cal Expansion Would Have Minimal Cost to State while Greatly Expanding Coverage
| January 9, 2013 | Posted by John Connolly under Blog, Federal, Funding, Health Financing, Health Financing News, Legislation/Policy, Medi-Cal, Public Coverage, State, State Budget |
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The results of a new study from the UC Berkeley Labor Center and the UCLA Health Policy Center estimate that the Medi-Cal expansion to 138% of federal poverty through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) would be at minimal cost to the State of California. In addition, the expansion would extend… more
California Health Benefit Exchange Receives Approval from Obama Administration
| January 3, 2013 | Posted by John Connolly under Blog, Federal, Insurance Exchange, Insurance Exchange News, Legislation/Policy, State |
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Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced today that California received approval to operate a state-run health insurance Exchange. California was one of seven states (also including HI, ID, NV, NM, VT, and UT) that received approval for this type of Exchange, and this group of states joins… more
Thinking Ahead: High Priorities for CA’s ACA Implementation (DRAFT)
| December 21, 2012 | Posted by Lucien Wulsin under Delivery Systems, Health Financing, Insurance Exchange, Legislation/Policy, Medi-Cal, Public Coverage, State |
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This working draft examines California’s ACA implementation efforts – where we are and where we need to go in the near future. Topics discussed include: Education, outreach and enrollment Medi-Cal expansion and simplification Exchange Residually uninsured Behavioral health Safety net Bending the cost curve Evolution The draft is available for… more
Summary of Proposed Federal Rules on EHB, Actuarial Value and Accreditation of QHP
| December 18, 2012 | Posted by Kiwon Yoo under Federal, Legislation/Policy, State |
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Plans in the individual and small employer markets must offer the 10 essential health benefits. 45 CFR §147.150 Plans in the individual market must offer child only coverage as well. Comment: this does not apply to grandfathered plans or to large and mid sized employer plans. A state can require… more
Summary of CMS’ FAQs on the Exchange and Medicaid Expansion
| December 13, 2012 | Posted by Lucien Wulsin under Federal, Legislation/Policy, State |
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There will be no further extensions of the deadlines for states to decide whether to operate an Exchange. State Exchanges must be financially self-sustaining by January 1, 2015. States will not be assessed a fee for using federal data services. Deadline to operate a Partnership Exchange between the state and… more
Creating a Streamlined Service Center for California’s Health Subsidy Programs
| December 10, 2012 | Posted by John Connolly under Insurance Exchange, Legislation/Policy, Medi-Cal, Public Coverage, Public Coverage News |
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The California Health Benefit Exchange, in coordination with the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS), will launch a new service center in 2014 to provide individuals and families with a unified eligibility determination and enrollment portal. This service center will allow consumers to learn about their coverage options and simultaneously… more
CaliforniACA November Newsletter
| December 10, 2012 | Posted by Kiwon Yoo under Legislation/Policy, State |
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ITUP’s 17th Annual Conference Registration for our 17th annual conference is now open! Confirmed speakers include: John Arensmeyer, Founder & CEO, Small Business Majority Kim Belshé, Executive Director, First 5 L.A. Diana Bontá, CEO, The California Wellness Foundation Alex Briscoe, Director, Alameda County Health Care Services Agency Diana Dooley, Secretary, CA Dept. of Health and… more
Primary Care Reimbursement Rates – Summary of New Federal Regulations
| November 25, 2012 | Posted by Lucien Wulsin under Blog, Federal, Legislation/Policy, State |
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As you all know, the ACA provides for an increase in primary care physician reimbursement from the Medicaid levels to the Medicare levels with 100% federal financial participation (FFP) of the incremental costs of this increase for Calendar Years 2013 and 2014. The goal of this increase is to increase… more
