CMS approves Arizona waiver request to add community engagement requirement and change retroactive coverage
Heidi Capriotti (AHCCCS) | Jan 18, 2019 | Arizona
The Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) received 1115 Waiver Amendment approval from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to implement community engagement requirements for some able bodied AHCCCS members ages 19 to 49, and to limit retroactive coverage for some applicants to the beginning of the
Health care-related bills we're watching in Arizona
Sara Gentzler | Jan 17, 2019 | Arizona
Arizona’s 2019 legislative session kicked off Monday, and legislators have already filed a flurry of health care-related bills. From vaping to vaccines, we count roughly 30 bills related to Arizonans’ health as of day four of session -- here are seven we’re watching: HB2024, introduced by Rep. Kavanagh, would include electronic
Regence BlueShield Names Stacy Crim as Sales Director for Middle Market
Ashley Bach | Jan 17, 2019 | Washington
Regence BlueShield of Washington is pleased to welcome Stacy Crim as Director of Sales & Account Management, 51-99 Segment. In her new role, Crim will drive new business opportunities and retention in the middle market segment, employers with 51-99 employees. Crim comes to Regence from Kaiser Permanente, where she served
Texas’ Freestanding Emergency Centers Provide Critical Access to Care
Dr. Carrie de Moor, FACEP | Jan 17, 2019 | Texas
A recent Houston Chronicle story highlighted consumer confusion about freestanding emergency centers (FECs) and questioned whether a patient’s ER care at an FEC would be covered by their insurance. There is no doubt that confusion exists in the marketplace. However, the source of the confusion is grossly misattributed. It is
Public Health Outcome Measure Report shows successes, challenges
Marjie High | Jan 16, 2019 | Utah
The Utah Department of Health (DOH) released a new Public Health Outcome Measures Report earlier this month. The report tracks Utah’s progress on key public health priority objectives as measured by indicators drawn from state and national targets with the goal of providing comprehensive information on the state’s health and
The investments and changes for California health care in Gov. Newsom’s budget
Sara Gentzler | Jan 16, 2019 | California
California Governor Gavin Newsom unveiled a $209 billion budget proposal last Friday, and it includes many investments in and changes for health care in the state, especially in regard to Medi-Cal. The budget includes $158.6 billion total, for all health and human services programs, with $64.8 billion in expenditures coming
As the session revs up, key legislative deadlines to watch
Marjie High | Jan 16, 2019 | California
As the legislative session kicks in to high gear, expect a flurry of action as thousands of bills begin winding their way through the Chambers. In the 2017-2018 session the Legislature considered a whopping 5617 bills, 1616 of which dealt in some form with health or health care. So far
What They're Watching: Michael Lujan, Oscar Health
Marjie High | Jan 15, 2019 | California
Michael Lujan is the Market Director at Oscar Health. He joins us in this edition of “What They’re Watching” to discuss consumer experience and telemedicine. "This might sound trite but we're a differentiated consumer experience, meaning we put the consumer experience first. By that we mean we give a dedicated
Symphony Provider Directory launches to streamline provider information reporting
Marjie High | Jan 15, 2019 | California
The Integrated Healthcare Association’s (IHA) new Symphony Provider Directory hard-launched last week on January 8, 2019. Back in June 2018, IHA soft-launched the pilot Provider Directory Utility, which has since been re-named. Funded by a $50 million grant from Blue Shield of California, and tested in collaboration with Anthem Blue
In State of the State Address, Colorado Gov. Polis announces health care priorities, Office of Saving People Money on Health Care
Sara Gentzler | Jan 11, 2019 | Colorado
In his first-ever State of the State Address as Colorado Governor, Gov. Jared Polis named health care as a top priority and detailed several health care-related goals. Polis credited former Governor John Hickenlooper and the Legislature for “admirable, bipartisan work years ago" to expand access to affordable health care before
