On Monday, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) approved a first wave of Section 1135 Waiver requests submitted by the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) to assist in California’s COVID-19 response efforts. Recall, DHCS submitted two request letters, the first on March 16and the second on March 19. In those letters,…
Read More »Over the past week, Governor Gavin Newsom issued three additional executive orders related to COVID-19 response activities. Executive Order N-35-20 was issued on Saturday, March 21, 2020, and is referred to as an “omnibus” executive order. This order contains a wide array of actions to provide the state the ability to increase healthcare capacity in…
Read More »This week, the California Department of Finance (DOF) took two significant actions related to the ongoing COVID-19 emergency. DOF Budget Letter On Tuesday, DOF issued a budget letter to all agency secretaries and departmental directors and senior staff notifying them of severe economic impacts, including a significant drop in economic activity with corresponding negative effects…
Read More »Today the House of Representatives passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) via a voice vote. Speaker Pelosi acknowledged during her remarks on the floor that the CARES Act was not perfect and that Congress would have to do more in a fourth package. Many representatives sat up in the gallery…
Read More »On Thursday evening, Governor Gavin Newsom issued Executive Order N-33-20 in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The executive order, which includes an order of the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Director and State Public Health Officer Dr. Sonia Angell, requires all Californians to stay at home or at their place of residence effective…
Read More »In a move that has not occurred in almost 160 years, the California Legislature voted Monday night to recess their respective bodies until Monday, April 13, 2020, due to COVID-19. Acknowledging the seriousness of the crisis, President pro Tempore Toni Atkins said “…even though we may not physically be in the Capitol, we will continue…
Read More »Last night, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell released the details of a Senate Republican plan for a third round of proposals aimed to address the COVID-19 crisis. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, or CARES Act is a nearly $1 trillion package. Major provisions include: $300 billion for loans for impacted small businesses….
Read More »On March 19, the California Department of Health Care Services sent a formal letter to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) requesting additional flexibilities to assist in California’s COVID-19 response efforts. DHCS requested the following flexibilities to be granted for fee-for-service Medi-Cal beneficiaries and providers, and various federally approved delivery systems such as…
Read More »In response to the extraordinary circumstances facing local health departments as they respond to the COVID-19 crisis, the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB) announced a 90-day extension for all local health departments who are currently engaged in the initial accreditation process and those seeking reaccreditation. More information on the extension can be found here.
Read More »Today, Covered California Executive Director Peter Lee, along with Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) Director Dr. Bradley Gilbert and State Medicaid Director Jacey Cooper, announced a special enrollment period for health insurance coverage amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Effective today, Friday, March 20, Californians who meet eligibility requirements and are without health insurance are…
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