Category: Policy Developments

October 19, 2012  –  The Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services recently released their 2013 quality star ratings for managed care plans. 2013 quality star ratings for Medicare health and drug plans. The rated plans selected to participate in California’s Coordinated Care Initiative (CCI) received an average rating of 3 out of 5 stars  Click here to link to the rating summary for California CCI plans.

The 5-star rating system is used by CMS to monitor plans to ensure that they meet Medicare’s quality standards. The ratings provide Medicare beneficiaries with a tool to compare the quality of care and customer service that Medicare health and drug plans offer. CMS’ star rating system considers 53 quality measures, such as success in providing preventive services, managing chronic illness, and keeping consumer complaints to a minimum.

 

Return to the Coordinated Care Initiative page here.

January 16, 2013 – **Update: The Launch Date has been pushed back to no earlier than July 2014** Both the Duals Demonstration and Medi-Cal Managed Care LTSS were set to launch in eight counties – including Alameda County – as early as June 1, 2013. The Governor’s proposed budget had moved the launch date to September 2013 July 2014 and specifies that in Alameda County enrollment will be phased in over 12 months. This means that the first notices that any beneficiaries would have received about the transition would arrive no earlier than June 2013 April 2014.

California’s Coordinated Care Initiative (CCI), included in last year’s FY 2012-13 Budget, is a multi-year plan to coordinate health care and long term services and supports for dual eligibles (Medicare/Medi-Cal beneficiaries) and Medi-Cal Only seniors and people with disabilities. The CCI has two major components. The first incorporates Medi-Cal-covered Long Term Services and Supports (IHSS, ADHC, MSSP and skilled nursing facility) into Managed Care. The second component, the Duals Demonstration, integrates Medicare and Medi-Cal coverage into Managed Care Plans that coordinate both medical and long term services and supports.

Return to the Coordinated Care Initiative page here.

July 10, 2012  –  The California Department of Health Care Services’ refusal to grant Medi-Cal CBAS eligibility to hundreds of medically complex and frail adults is threatening the viability of Adult Day Health Care in Alameda County. Here is a link to a Chronicle article about the crisis.

On June 27, 2012, Governor Brown signed the new Budget for California’s 2012-13 fiscal year. The Budget addresses a $15.7 billion deficit (up sharply from the $9.2 billion predicted in January, but now in alignment with Legislative Analyst’s projections). The Budget calls for $16.6 billion in cuts and revenue (leaving a $948 million reserve fund).  The plan includes:

• $6 billion in additional revenues from a November ballot measure asking voters to increase the sales tax by ½ percent and impose higher income tax rates on high-income Californians.
• $6.1 billion in “triggered” cuts to take effect on January 1, 2013 if voters don’t approve the November measure.
• $8.1 billion in cuts to CalWORKs, child care, Cal Grants, Medi-Cal, In-Home Supportive Services and other programs.
• $2.5 billion in loan repayment extensions, transfers and other one-time solutions.

The Budget follows years of reductions that have scaled back critical public programs and institutions. This policy-making has thrown the system of long term supports and services into chaos and put thousands of seniors and people with disabilities in peril… and it is not over.

Read more about the decisions enacted by the FY 2012-13 State Budget that would directly impact seniors and senior services in Alameda County.

Return to the State Budget page here.