This week, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Seema Verma issued new guidelines encouraging states to require “able-bodied” Medicaid beneficiaries to work or volunteer to remain eligible for health coverage benefits. Indicating a departure from prior CMS policy regarding work as a condition of Medicaid eligibility or coverage, states can now require…
Read More »Negotiations continue among Congress and the White House as another federal government shutdown looms. Recall late last month, Congress passed a short-term government funding measure that extended current federal funding levels through next Friday, January 19. Bipartisan discussions over immigration, fixes to the Affordable Care Act (ACA), national security, and defense spending, among other items,…
Read More »Governor Jerry Brown announced on Thursday that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) granted the state’s request for expanded federal disaster assistance in response to the flooding and mud and debris flows that have impacted Santa Barbara and Ventura counties in recent days. FEMA expanded the previously-approved Presidential Major Disaster Declaration in the areas impacted…
Read More »In October, President Donald Trump directed the acting director of the Department of Health and Human Services to declare the opioid crisis a public health emergency. That emergency declaration is set to expire in approximately 10 days on January 23. The declaration has permitted public health agencies to redirect existing resources to address the crisis,…
Read More »This months’ U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Vital Signs highlights safe sleep practices to help lower the risk of sleep-related infant deaths. The CDC reports approximately 3,500 sleep-related deaths among U.S. babies occur each year. The Vital Signs report provides tips and guidance for action by local health departments, public health practitioners,…
Read More »The California Legislature returned to Sacramento on Wednesday, January 3 for the second year of the 2017-18 Legislative Session. Fire response, housing, sexual harassment and defending California against recent federal actions are quickly emerging as key issues for 2018. Key issues In addition to the introduction of bills aimed at strengthening emergency notification systems, Insurance…
Read More »Governor Jerry Brown will release his proposed FY 2018-2019 state budget next week on Wednesday, January 10. Following the release on Wednesday, CHEAC will provide an overview of the Governor’s budget. Stay tuned for more information.
Read More »On Thursday afternoon, as expected, US Attorney General Jeff Sessions released a one-page memo to all United States Attorneys rescinding the “Cole Memo” issued during the Obama Administration. The memo recognized that cannabis was still illegal under the federal Controlled Substances Act, but allowed federal prosecutors to focus their resources elsewhere, so long as states…
Read More »The Senate Finance Committee announced this week that it will hold a confirmation hearing for Alex Azar, nominee for the Secretary of the Department Health and Human Services, on Tuesday, January 9. Recall, President Donald Trump announced his selection of Azar for HHS in November. Azar spent nearly a decade at pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly,…
Read More »CHEAC Staff wishes everyone a very happy holidays and happy new year! The CHEAC Office will be closed on Monday, December 25, Tuesday, December 26, and Monday, January 1. Staff availability will be limited next week. Our CHEAC Weekly Update will not be distributed next week and will resume the week of January 1, 2018.
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