http://www.lahealthaction.org/index.php/library/index en vcalderon@lahealthaction.org Copyright 2012 2012-05-16T22:04:34-08:00 http://lahealthaction.org/index.php/library/full_entry/3957/ Report providing the 2012 Milliman Medical Index measurements of 14 American cities, including Los Angeles, on total cost of healthcare for a typical family of four covered by a preferred provider plan (PPO). The report finds that family healthcare spending in 2012 reached a new high averaging $20,728, a cost roughly equivalent to that of a basic mid-size sedan. The report provides scenarios detailing potential outcomes of the Supreme Court ruling on ACA and how the different rulings may effect future PPO payments for Americans. Health Insurance and Coverage Programs, Employment-based Health Insurance, Health Care Reform and Expansion, Health Care Financing, Costs of Health Care 2012-05-16T20:56:33-08:00 http://lahealthaction.org/index.php/library/full_entry/3959/ Memorandum to the Board of Supervisors providing an update on Budget Reconciliation Legislation (HR 5652) in Washington D.C. On May 10, 2012 the House passed HR 5652 which repeals and replaces certain automatic sequestration spending cuts that would otherwise take effect in 2013. The Obama Administration strongly opposes H.R. 5652 mainly because it represents an "unbalanced" approach which "undermines critical domestic priorities, such as efforts to prevent hunger and support low-income families and communities; and to expand health care access and implement the Affordable Care Act (ACA)." Health Insurance and Coverage Programs, Health Care Reform and Expansion 2012-05-15T22:31:19-08:00 http://lahealthaction.org/index.php/library/full_entry/3952/ Report providing a funding breakdown of Health and Human Service programs as proposed in the 2012-13 May budget revision by Governor Brown. State Budget, Health Insurance and Coverage Programs, Public Health Insurance Coverage Programs, Health Care Reform and Expansion, Health Care Financing, Costs of Health Care 2012-05-14T18:08:26-08:00 http://lahealthaction.org/index.php/library/full_entry/3961/ Memorandum to the Board of Supervisors providing the County's opposition to AB 2002 (Cedillo), which as amended April 30, 2012, would codify and expand the definition of a safety net provider, and change the formula in which a Medi-Cal beneficiary is assigned to a Medi-Cal managed care plan when a beneficiary fails to select a plan. AB 2002 would substantially expand the definition of an outpatient safety net provider to include clinics that may not dedicate any portion of their business to serving medically indigent populations. DHS fears it would significantly impact the number of future default auto-assignments to health providers in populations newly covered by Medi-Cal managed care and could impact existing and future programs that are intended to target safety net providers resulting in adverse fiscal implications. Health Insurance and Coverage Programs, Health Care Delivery Systems, Section 1115 Medicaid Waiver 2012-05-12T00:08:26-08:00 http://lahealthaction.org/index.php/library/full_entry/3950/ Report on a survey measuring consumer assistance in four state health agencies (California’s Department of Insurance, Department of Managed Health Care, Department of Health Care Services, and Managed Risk Medical Insurance Board) performed in providing assistance to Californians. They asked for help in filing for Medi-Cal, Healthy Families, and the Pre-existing Condition Insurance Programs, or they also presented themselves as covered by health insurance, but asking for guidance about how to find a primary care physician, get a second opinion, or obtain a prompt referral to a specialist. For the most part, the surveyors got useful, timely, and accurate answers. Health Insurance and Coverage Programs, Outreach, Enrollment, Retention and Utilization 2012-05-11T22:11:04-08:00 http://lahealthaction.org/index.php/library/full_entry/3942/ Memorandum providing pursuits of County position on legislation related to funding for local ombudsman programs and creation of the Basic Health Program State option; a report on legislation of County interest regarding the definition of a safety net care provider for purpose of determining default enrollment into a Medi-Cal managed care provider; and the status of realignment budget trailer bill language. State Budget, Health Insurance and Coverage Programs, Public Health Insurance Coverage Programs, Health Care Reform and Expansion, Health Care Delivery Systems, Hospitals, Ambulatory Care 2012-05-01T23:21:41-08:00 http://lahealthaction.org/index.php/library/full_entry/3935/ Report providing results of a study on the undergoing transformation of primary care from physician-centered practices to patient-focused teams. Visiting seven primary care clinics to understand how they adapted their practices to put the patient at the center; the authors found six key characteristics considered to be the building blocks of the new model of health care delivery: data-driven improvement, empanelment and panel size management, team-based care, population management, continuity and availability of care, and prompt access to care. Health Insurance and Coverage Programs, Outreach, Enrollment, Retention and Utilization, Health Care Reform and Expansion, Health Care Delivery Systems, Ambulatory Care, Health Professionals 2012-04-24T23:53:06-08:00 http://lahealthaction.org/index.php/library/full_entry/3934/ Presentation from the April 23, 2012 DHCS Stakeholder Advisory Committee (SAC) meeting providing key information on California's dual eligibles demonstration proposal including requirements from a proposed demonstration model and counties selected for the demonstration under current law. Health Insurance and Coverage Programs, Public Health Insurance Coverage Programs, Health Care Reform and Expansion, Health Care Delivery Systems, Section 1115 Medicaid Waiver 2012-04-23T19:16:32-08:00 http://lahealthaction.org/index.php/library/full_entry/3933/ Memorandum to the Board of Supervisors providing that the evaluation process for the DHS EHR System acquisition has concluded, with the two final proposers being ranked in the following order: first ranked proposer is Cerner, and the second ranked proposer is Epic. DHS anticipates that contract negotiations will begin with Cerner in May and continue through June. Health Insurance and Coverage Programs, Outreach, Enrollment, Retention and Utilization, Health Care Reform and Expansion, Health Care Delivery Systems 2012-04-23T18:15:00-08:00 http://lahealthaction.org/index.php/library/full_entry/3931/ Report providing research findings on a study of dually eligible Medicaid-Medicare beneficiaries (duel eligibles) cost impact on Medicaid and Medicare expenditure. The report finds that there is a large spending difference within the diverse dual eligibles population, some relying more on Medicaid spending, others on Medicare depending on the kind of services most pertinent to their care. This large spending difference will make dual eligibles an important policy focus. Decision makers will need to take a multidimensional approach to improving the value, efficiency, and quality of care provided to duel eligible beneficiaries. Health Insurance and Coverage Programs, Public Health Insurance Coverage Programs, Health Care Reform and Expansion, Section 1115 Medicaid Waiver 2012-04-20T19:02:49-08:00 http://lahealthaction.org/index.php/library/full_entry/3930/ Policy brief providing findings from the recent Commonwealth Fund Health Insurance Tracking Survey of U.S. Adults and insight as to how the ACA will help end the insurance gaps and consequent interruptions in care that so many Americans experience every year. The findings of the survey underscore the need for federal and state policymakers to press ahead with their work implementing the law. Health Insurance and Coverage Programs, Employment-based Health Insurance, Public Health Insurance Coverage Programs, Outreach, Enrollment, Retention and Utilization, Health Care Reform and Expansion 2012-04-19T18:16:16-08:00 http://lahealthaction.org/index.php/library/full_entry/3932/ Memorandum to the Board of Supervisors providing an update on the progress to date for developing five potential Integrated School Health Center (ISHC) projects. The plan was intended to leverage several revenue opportunities, including Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) Prevention and Early Integration (PEI) funds in developing these pilot sites for the integration of behavioral health services with County-funded primary care services at school-based health center sites. Updates include results from the Education and Health Policy Summit, progress of MHSA PEI fund allocations, and next steps to be taken. Health Insurance and Coverage Programs, Health Care Reform and Expansion, Health Care Delivery Systems, Ambulatory Care, Children's Health and Coverage 2012-04-18T17:14:29-08:00 http://lahealthaction.org/index.php/library/full_entry/3929/ Memorandum to the board of supervisors providing County positions on IHSS workers' compensation and the Safety Net Care Pool (SNCP) funding. The Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 1 on Health and Human Services rejected the IHSS Trailer Bill language to define criteria for pre-approval of the exceptions to the 20 percent trigger reductions in IHSS hours and rejected the proposal to eliminate IHSS domestic and related services to persons living in shared living arrangements. The remaining IHSS issues were held open until the May Budget Revision. DHS and CEO recommend an oppose position on AB 2096, legislation which would allow non-designated public hospitals to submit claims to receive reimbursement from SNCP, because it is counter to existing Board policy to support legislation that promotes the fair and equitable distribution of SNCP dollars between public and private hospitals. State Budget, Health Insurance and Coverage Programs, Public Health Insurance Coverage Programs, Health Care Delivery Systems, Hospitals, Health Professionals, Section 1115 Medicaid Waiver 2012-04-17T23:48:35-08:00 http://lahealthaction.org/index.php/library/full_entry/3947/ Memorandum to the Board of Supervisors providing a recommended budget for the County of Los Angeles FY 2012-13. The memorandum provides a breakdown of the drastic changes taking place in the Department of Health Services' and Medi-Cal revenue streams as a result of the 1115 Waiver, particularly with the Healthy Way LA (HWLA) Matched program, the transition of SPDs into Medi-Cal managed care, the transfer of the Office of Managed Care's lines of business to L.A. Care and the State's transfer of various programs to the County. Health Insurance and Coverage Programs, Public Health Insurance Coverage Programs, Health Care Reform and Expansion, Health Care Financing, Costs of Health Care, Section 1115 Medicaid Waiver 2012-04-17T21:03:35-08:00 http://lahealthaction.org/index.php/library/full_entry/3946/ Memorandum to all department heads providing details of the County Board of Supervisors' recent approval of revisions and updates to the existing 2012 County Strategic Plan. The update provides a description of the 2012 Action Plan for achieving Goal 2, Strategic Initiative 3: California's Section 1115 Medicaid Waiver and Health Care Reform, in order to safeguard the Los Angeles health care safety net and provide access to a high-quality, patient-centered, cost-effective health care delivery system. Health Insurance and Coverage Programs, Public Health Insurance Coverage Programs, Health Care Reform and Expansion, Health Care Delivery Systems, Section 1115 Medicaid Waiver 2012-04-17T20:50:26-08:00 http://lahealthaction.org/index.php/library/full_entry/3928/ Policy brief addressing a number of challenges facing school health centers that must be addressed in order to expand and enhance the system as discussed at a recent policy summit co-convened by Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, LACOE, and LAUSD. Potential strategies to address the challenges and next steps based on ideas generated during the summit are provided. Health Insurance and Coverage Programs, Public Health Insurance Coverage Programs, Outreach, Enrollment, Retention and Utilization, Health Care Reform and Expansion, Health Care Delivery Systems, Ambulatory Care, Children's Health and Coverage 2012-04-16T21:23:37-08:00 http://lahealthaction.org/index.php/library/full_entry/3926/ Memorandum to the Board of Supervisors providing some recent successes in the ongoing transformation of the DHS. Harbor-UCLA and LAC+USC Medical Centers received notification that they have received a "Baby Friendly" designation by a U.S. accrediting agency sponsored by the WHO and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). Second, due to administrators' newly assigned task of of dedicating at least one half-day per week to direct patient care or clinical support services the Ambulatory Care Network (ACN) has been able to add over 70 primary care sessions per week. Finally, the recent submission of the semi-annual report on progress toward achieving milestones for the DSRIP has made evident that L.A. County will soon receive over $160 million in incentive funding. This means L.A. County is on track to receive 100% of maximum funding by the end of the year which is a critical component of DHS' operating budget. Health Insurance and Coverage Programs, Health Care Reform and Expansion, Health Care Delivery Systems, Hospitals, Ambulatory Care, Health Professionals, Section 1115 Medicaid Waiver 2012-04-13T21:07:19-08:00 http://lahealthaction.org/index.php/library/full_entry/3927/ Memorandum to the Board of Supervisors providing recent updates on HWLA and the 1115 Medicaid Waiver implementation efforts. Updates for HWLA include CP and clinic expansions, enrollment trends, upcoming developments with the General Relief population and LEADER/YourBenefitsNow, and programatic improvements. Updates for the 1115 Medicaid Waiver include enrollment of SPDs, eConsult training and implementation, and DSRIP milestones progress. Health Insurance and Coverage Programs, Public Health Insurance Coverage Programs, Health Care Reform and Expansion, Section 1115 Medicaid Waiver, Coverage Initiative 2012-04-13T20:15:13-08:00 http://lahealthaction.org/index.php/library/full_entry/3938/ Policy brief providing a summary of the federal Medicaid eligibility rule changes, which includes information on the impact to California. This simplified version of the rule changes provides a great overview of policy change associated with the Affordable Care Act. Health Insurance and Coverage Programs, Employment-based Health Insurance, Public Health Insurance Coverage Programs, Outreach, Enrollment, Retention and Utilization, Health Care Reform and Expansion 2012-04-12T18:53:38-08:00 http://lahealthaction.org/index.php/library/full_entry/3922/ Fact sheet addressing the socio-economic disposition of paid caregivers in California. Statistics show that paid caregivers, many of whom are employed through California's In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) fare much worse on a number of economic security indicators. Data from the California Health interview Survey showed paid Medi-Cal caregivers had the highest rates of poverty most often bellow 100% FPL, closely followed by all other paid caregivers, while unpaid caregivers' incomes averaged above 300% FPL. Reduced funding for programs affecting seniors and cargivers will likely add to the burdens already faces by California's paid caregivers. Health Insurance and Coverage Programs, Public Health Insurance Coverage Programs, Health Status and Issues, Vulnerable Populations and Health Disparities 2012-04-12T16:30:11-08:00