We were delighted to see many of you at the 2021 Southern California State of Reform Health Policy Conference last week. After so many months in the virtual space, it was incredibly refreshing to host an in-person event where stakeholders could have thoughtful, face-to-face conversations on state health care policy. Thank you to all who … Read more
Linnea Koopmans recently took the reins as CEO of Local Health Plans of California, which represents the state’s 16 locally-based, non-profit health plans providing Medi-Cal services. Around 70% of California’s Medi-Cal population gets coverage through LHPC’s member plans. Formerly the senior policy analyst for the County Behavioral Health Directors Association, Koopmans has vast experience with … Read more
Governor Gavin Newsom today announced the appointment of California Health and Human Services Agency (CHHS) Undersecretary Michelle Baass as Director of the California Department of Health Care Services, filling the role held by outgoing Director William Lightbourne since June 2020. CHHS Deputy Secretary of Program and Fiscal Affairs Marko Mijic has been appointed to serve as Undersecretary of the … Read more
The modeling for COVID suggests that California is going to do relatively well against the Delta variant compared to other states. The early mask mandate in LA probably helped. At 42%, California has the highest proportion of residents in any state saying they are “always wearing a mask when leaving home.” California has the lowest rate of … Read more
In an analysis of stakeholder comments on the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS)’s Medi-Cal Managed Care Draft RFP, the California Health Care Foundation (CHCF) found one of the most prominent themes to be a lack of completeness and clarity. CHCF invited stakeholders to share the comments they submitted to DHCS during the state’s … Read more
The California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) announced today a new commitment to pay $69.4 million toward student loans for 249 physicians and 44 dentists to expand health care access for Medi-Cal patients. CalHealthCares, the loan repayment program, incentivizes physicians and dentists to serve Medi-Cal beneficiaries by repaying educational debt up to $300,000 in … Read more
The California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) announced last week it will implement its postponed Medi-Cal Rx program in January 2022. The announcement came after DHCS accepted a Conflict Avoidance Plan submitted by the program’s vendor, Magellan Medicaid Administration (MMA), a subsidiary of Magellan Health, Inc. The Medi-Cal Rx program — the result of … Read more