By  Suzanne Potter, California News Service

Suzanne Potter

January 9,2024 (Sacramento) -- Starting January 1st, California became the first state to cover health care for all income-eligible people regardless of their age or immigration status. 

By Shreya Agrawal, Cal-Matters

Photo: JRG Publishing, stock photo

October 1, 2023 (Sacramento) -- Tens of thousands of Californians are losing health insurance every month as the state resumes checking people’s eligibility for Medi-Cal, which it suspended during the COVID-19 public health emergency. 

Suzanne Potter, California News Service

February 28, 2023 (Sacramento) -- Two million children and adults in California could lose health-insurance coverage over the next year - as the state winds down the continuous-coverage requirements in place during COVID, according to a new report from Georgetown University. The pandemic health emergency officially ends May first, but on April first California will start re-determining eligibility for 50-million people on Medi-Cal.

Mike Odeh, senior director of health with the non-profit Children Now and report lead author, said recipients must make sure the program has their current address.

"The state has been proactive in asking families to make sure that their contact information is up to date. And we know that they have launched a campaign," Odeh said. "So families can visit keepmedicalcoverage.org to sign up for email and text message alerts with updates about medical renewals."

Children who are still eligible could lose coverage if the renewal notice goes to the wrong address or if there is an administrative error. During the pandemic emergency, the state was required to keep all Medi-Cal recipients on the program. But now the income requirements will kick in once again. More than 56% of kids in California and 52% nationwide are covered under Medicaid or CHIP.

By Kristen Hwang, CalMatters

CalMatters is a public interest journalism venture committed to explaining how California’s state Capitol works and why it matters

Photo:  USC’s Brett Feldman does a checkup on his patient Gary Dela Cruz on the side of the road near an encampment in downtown Los Angeles. Photo by Larry Valenzuela for CalMatters

December 12, 2022 (Los Angeles) - Living on the streets of California is a deadly affair. The life expectancy of an unsheltered person is 50, according to national estimates, nearly 30 years less than that of the average Californian.

By Suzanne Potter, California News Service

August 9, 2021 (Sacramento) -- Hundreds of thousands of Medi-Cal recipients who experienced financial hardship during the pandemic are paying monthly premiums when they don't have to - presumably unaware that the state is waiving the monthly payments during the pandemic.

East County News Service

November 16, 2015 (San Diego) - The enrollment period is now open for Covered California, which aims to sign up 450,000 new enrollees by the end of January, when the third open enrollment season ends.

January 7, 2015 (San Diego's East County) -- As the second wave of open enrollment into Covered California is in full swing, individuals covered under their parent or spouse's health plan can start feeling safe enough to actually use their insurance. SB 138 - the Confidential Health Information Act - took effect on January 1st to close loopholes in existing state and federal laws that result in breaches in patient confidentiality through Explanation of Benefits letters and other standard communications from health insurance plans.

Legislation Introduced to Boost Medi-Cal Reimbursements

Lori Abbott, California News Service

February 25, 2014 (Sacramento)--An effort is under way to restore funding cuts to the California Medicaid program, known as Medi-Cal. California has the lowest reimbursement rates in the nation, at just $18 a visit for primary care services - which makes it increasingly more difficult for people on Medicaid to find a doctor.

By Lori Abbott, California News Service

March 10, 2013 (Sacramento) - One million more low-income and uninsured Californians are closer to getting health care.  The state Assembly and Senate have passed key legislation that will expand California's Medi-Cal program and make it easier and faster to use.

Assembly Speaker John Perez says the bills are an important step to ensure those living below the poverty line have access to quality care. "People living at or below 138 percent of the federal poverty line," Perez says. "We're talking about people surviving on $15,400 a year or less."

December 26, 2012 -- (San Diego’s East County)--East County Roundup highlights top stories of interest to East County and San Diego’s inland regions, published in other media. This week’s top “Roundup” headlines include:

LOCAL

• East County redevelopment funding announced (U-T San Diego)
• San Diego’s Biggest Park Gets Even Bigger (KPBS)
• San Diego Kaiser Hospital Fined For Removing Wrong Kidney (KPBS)
• El Cajon PIO stayed at hotel with Hanson-Cox (U-T San Diego)
• San Diego Boy Scout Council Wins Lease Discrimination Lawsuit, Leases to Continue at Balboa Park and Fiesta Island (Mission Times Courier)
• City wins tentative ruling in pension case (U-T San Diego)
• A roadmap to SANDAG’s transportation plans (Voice of San Diego)

STATE

• Feds reject Calif. request for education waiver (Sacramento Bee)
• Second audit of State Parks finds more mystery money (Sacramento Bee)
• 2,600 Medi-Cal cards sent to wrong families (Sacramento Bee)
• Lawmakers target key environmental law for overhaul (U-T San Diego)
• Pot farm boom slams Northern Calif. environment (Sacramento Bee)
• California farmers, residents to get more water (Sacramento Bee)

Read more for excerpts and links to full stories.

State to receive estimated $573 million in additional Medicaid funds.

September 5, 2012 (Sacramento) – The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced its approval today of California’s State Plan Amendment (SPA) to enact the Community First Choice Option.  The SPA approval will provide the state with an estimated $573 million in additional federal funds during the first two years of implementation in its effort to continue to prioritize an individual’s ability to reside in one’s community rather than in institutional care.

 
January 23, 2012 (San Diego) – Assemblymember Marty Block is sponsoring a Senior Financial Care and Health Care seminar on Tuesday, January 31 from 9:30-11:30 a.m.  It will be held at The College Avenue Center at Beth Jacob Synagogue, 4855 College Avenue in San Diego.