- Exchanges: The California Exchange Board recommended that the exchange rely on a direct payment model and awarded a contract to develop its eligibility and enrollment system. The $360 million contract includes $183 million for the development and implementation of the system and $176 million to continue operation of the program for the next three and a half years.
- Essential Health Benefits: California requires all providers participating in the state exchange to cover all “essential health benefit” requirements. The Assembly and Senate approved two different bills to designate the state’s essential health benefits benchmark plan (A.B. 1453/S.B. 951). Both bills are awaiting further consideration.
- Medicaid Expansion: California will be expanding Medicaid.
- Medicare Advantage Enrollment: California currently has 1,923,924 seniors and people with disabilities enrolled in Medicare Advantage, or about 38% of all Medicare beneficiaries.
NEWS OF NOTE
» Los Angeles Times – Healthcare law could raise premiums 30% for some Californians
» Contra Costa Times – California’s subsidized health insurance ‘marketplace’ takes shape
» Sacramento Bee – California Health Exchange Seeks to Make Buying Insurance a Breeze
» Governor Brown Issues Statement on Supreme Court Ruling (press release)
» UC Berkeley and UCLA – Estimates for Exchange Enrollment
» Los Angeles Times – California Health Insurance Exchange Awards Operational Contract
» The Sacramento Bee – Jerry Brown orders task force on Californians’ health care
» Huffington Post – President’s Affordable Care Act Has Been ‘Lifesaving’ for Golden State
» San Francisco Chronicle – California Health Insurance Exchange Moving Ahead
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