On Wednesday, Governor Gavin Newsom declared a State of Emergency for California to enhance the State’s ability to respond to COVID-19. The Governor, joined by California Health and Human Services Secretary Ghaly, California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Director and State Health Officer Sonia Angell, and Office of Emergency Services (OES) Director Mark Ghilarducci, convened…
Read More »This week, the U.S. House of Representatives (415-2) and Senate (96-1) both overwhelmingly passed an emergency spending package to combat the coronavirus (COVID-19) that has been spreading throughout the United States. President Trump signed the measure this morning at the White House. The $8.3 billion spending bill provides funding to various federal agencies responsible for…
Read More »With the February 21 bill introduction deadline past us, the California Legislature has begun scheduling its bill hearings in policy committees over the coming weeks. The CHEAC Legislative Committee is meeting again today in-person in Sacramento to review legislative measures of interest to local health departments and public health. Bills on which positions are taken…
Read More »On Monday, the Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 1 on Health and Human Services, chaired by Assembly Member Joaquin Arambula, convened to hear budget items related to the California Department of Public Health (CDPH). Arambula foreshadowed much of the work that lies ahead for the subcommittee, indicating they have roughly 16 scheduled hearings and the largest…
Read More »On Monday, the Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO) published a report detailing the Newsom Administration’s sweeping California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal (CalAIM) proposal to transform the state’s Medi-Cal program. The LAO’s report provides an overview of the primary components to be reformed through the CalAIM proposal, including: Increasing Focus on Medi-Cal’s High-Cost, High-Risk Enrollees – The…
Read More »Last Friday was the deadline for new legislative bills to be introduced for 2020. To date, the Legislature has introduced over 2,200 measures in both houses. CHEAC’s Legislative Committee also convened on February 21 to review the first batch of bills of interest to local health departments. The Committee will meet again on Friday, March…
Read More »Earlier this week, the Senate Rules Committee convened to review the appointment of Marko Mijic, for his role as Deputy Secretary, Program and Fiscal Affairs, for the California Health and Human Services Agency. Mr. Mijic in his opening remarks noted that he came to the United States 22 years earlier as a refugee with his…
Read More »On Thursday, the Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee, chaired by Senator Holly Mitchell, convened an informational hearing on homelessness. The hearing commenced with the Legislative Analyst’s Office framing the issue of homelessness in California, highlighting historical state and local efforts, and walking through some of the Governor’s related budget proposals. Ali Sutton, representing the…
Read More »On Wednesday, the Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Subcommittee No. 3 on Health and Human Services and the Senate Health Committee convened a joint hearing to discuss oversight and accountability of Medi-Cal managed care plans and new responsibilities for health plans included in CalAIM. Dr. Bradley Gilbert began serving as director of the Department of…
Read More »One of the most well-received announcements in the Medi-Cal world this week was that Medi-Cal Healthier California for All would return to its original name, CalAIM. Recall last November, the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) released their multi-year proposal transform and enhance the Medi-Cal program, entitled California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal (CalAIM). However, the…
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