Posts Tagged: medicaid

Opinion

Major victory in the fight against diabetes complications

Constant glucose monitoring, image by russellleephoto

OPINION – New guidelines issued today by the state’s Department of Health Care Services will increase access to essential medical devices called continuous glucose monitors (CGMs). With more than 10% of the population in California living with diabetes, 29% of which are Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander and 22% American Indian and Alaska Native, the new policy for CGM access is not just a win for people living with diabetes but a win for our entire healthcare system.

Opinion

Time to rein in the broken prior authorization system

California health care, image by Niyazz

OPINION – I see it all the time in my practice— prior authorization used to be required for only expensive, elective or new procedures, but it is now required for some of the most basic prescription drugs.  And the data bears out what physicians are seeing, because while frequency rates of prior authorization denials in the commercial market remains mostly secret, we know that where we do have information – in the Medicaid and Medicare markets – the data paints a worrying picture.

News

The fight over health coverage for children, pregnant women

A child has her ear inspected by a doctor using an otoscope. (Photo: Andrew_Popov)

Health insurance coverage for 1.3 million California children and pregnant women is at risk because of Congress’ delay in extending the Children’s Health Insurance Program. While the House recently approved a bill to extend the program for five years, the bill still needs approval by the Senate and a fight is expected about how to pay for the extension.

News

CA prepares for health care battle

A physician prepares a syringe for use. (Photo: Shutterstock)

The results of a presidential election won by Republican Donald Trump has some in a panic. And with GOP majorities in both houses of Congress, Trump presumably can do just about anything. But California health advocates are not talking about abandoning the state’s healthcare system. They’re preparing for a fight.

News

Inmates’ health care a critical piece of new reforms

As it turns out, the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), known popularly as “Obamacare,” could be a boon to the California budget. Given how the ACA is structured, the state could end up spending less on an unlikely source – prison inmates. The ACA is designed to expand healthcare coverage to low-income

News

Showdown between state, counties over health-care budget funding

A major budget battle has erupted between the Brown administration and California’s counties over health-care spending, with the governor hoping to divert some $2.5 billion from the counties over the next three years.

 

At issue is money – initially, $300 million — that the counties use to provide care for the indigent. But Brown

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