Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, California received an increase in Medicaid funding under the condition that disenrollments would be postponed for as long as the federal COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) remained active, which allowed millions of Californians to remain on Medi-Cal during the unprecedented health crisis. But with the Federal Consolidated Appropriations … Read more
The 74th Colorado Legislature convened its first session of 2023 on Monday with lawmakers passing motions in both chambers to adopt committee references. The Joint Health Committee, composed of the House Health and Insurance Committee and the Senate Health and Human Services Committee, is scheduled to hold its first meetings on Wednesday and Thursday. … Read more
Experts discussed Oregon’s efforts to provide health coverage for residents at risk of losing it when the public health emergency (PHE) ends at last month’s 2022 Oregon State of Reform Health Policy Conference. Sen. Elizabeth Steiner Hayward (D-Portland) is Co-Chair of the Joint Task Force on the Bridge Health Care Program, which has … Read more
After being virtual for 2020 and 2021, the 2022 North Texas State of Reform Health Policy Conference returns in person at the Irving Convention Center in Dallas on Tuesday, September 27th. Dr. Fred Cerise, President & Chief Executive Officer of Parkland Health & Hospital System, is scheduled for the Morning Keynote and will … Read more
With the ban on COVID-19 vaccination mandates for employees of government entities in the state taking effect on Sept. 24th, new data shows that vaccinated employees in Pima County have cost the county “significantly” less in health care costs than unvaccinated employees. To promote vaccination rates, the Pima County Administrator established a vaccine … Read more
Dr. Charissa Fotinos, Medicaid Director at the Washington State Health Care Authority (HCA) kicked off the 2022 Inland Northwest State of Reform Policy Conference by discussing the agency’s top health insurance priorities. Fotinos oversees the Apple Health program, which serves over 2 million Washingtonians. She said HCA is currently working to expand the … Read more
A bill improving access to biomarker testing was enrolled and sent to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk on Sept. 6th. Senate Bill 912, sponsored by Sen. Monique Limon (D – Santa Barbara), requires health plans to provide coverage for biomarker testing for the diagnosis, treatment, management, or ongoing monitoring of an enrollee’s disease or … Read more
A bill requiring Covered California to reduce cost sharing requirements will soon be signed into law. On Wednesday, Senate Bill 944 passed its final floor reading in the Assembly and moved back into the Senate, which concurred with Assembly amendments. The bill would require Covered California to provide health care affordability assistance to … Read more
Many Washingtonians will face uncertainties regarding health care coverage when the public health emergency (PHE) ends, and state officials are working to address those concerns. Health officials discussed those efforts during a Senate Health & Long Term Care Committee meeting Wednesday. The PHE was extended through Oct. 13th last week. But officials need … Read more
Colorado became the first state in the country to have a state-designed health care insurance option for its residents approved by CMS last Thursday. Approval of the Colorado Option through the federal 1332 waiver now means the state can proceed with rate setting for its standardized health insurance plan, which is mandated to be sold … Read more