Measure Ends Use of Preexisting Condition Exclusions, Excessive Rates

May 2, 2013 (Sacramento)--A bill by Senator Ed Hernandez, O.D. (D – West Covina), Chair of the Senate Health Committee, that would put in place for California the vital consumer protections and reforms included as part of the federal Affordable Care Act (ACA), cleared its final legislative hurdle this week and is on its way to the Governor for signature.  The legislation, SB X1 2, was introduced as part of the special session on health care called for by Governor Brown during his State of the State Address in January.

By Lori Abbott, California News Service

March 10, 2013 (Sacramento) - One million more low-income and uninsured Californians are closer to getting health care.  The state Assembly and Senate have passed key legislation that will expand California's Medi-Cal program and make it easier and faster to use.

Assembly Speaker John Perez says the bills are an important step to ensure those living below the poverty line have access to quality care. "People living at or below 138 percent of the federal poverty line," Perez says. "We're talking about people surviving on $15,400 a year or less."

September 24, 2012 (San Diego)—Many survivors of adolescent and young adult cancers avoid routine medical care because it’s too expensive, despite the fact that most have health insurance, an article published today in CANCER, a peer-reviewed publication of the American Cancer Society, reveals. That is the conclusion of a new study published early online in CANCER, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society. The results indicate that expanding insurance coverage for young cancer survivors may be insufficient to safeguard their long-term health without efforts to reduce their medical cost burdens.

August 2, 2012 (Washington D.C.)  Effective August 1, 47 million women across America have access to eight new prevention-related health care services without paying more out of their own pocket, Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced yesterday.  

The new benefits range from wellness checkups to domestic violence screenings, birth control, and free screenings for HIV (the AIDS virus), sexually-transmitted diseases, and gestational diabetes.  The benefits are required to be covered free under many, though not all, healthcare plans.

 By Miriam Raftery

July 5, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) –Among the least understood aspects of the Affordable Care Act are the benefits that it offers to nonprofit organizations.  Smaller nonprofits have potential to reap benefits, along with their employees—without the potential penalties facing some for-profit employers.

East County Magazine contacted the new Health Law Guide for businesses site to ask how the law will impact nonprofit organizations.  Here is the response that we received:

July 5, 2012 (San Diego) -- The federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, signed into law in 2010, will take full effect by 2014. In light of a recent Supreme Court decision ruling the law constitutional, you may wonder how the law will affect California's small businesses.

The new law does not require employers to provide health insurance for employees. However, there are both penalties for not meeting coverage requirements and tax incentives for small businesses that do. To help small businesses learn more about requirements and opportunities provided by the new law, some of California's leading business organizations have launched a website: healthlawguideforbusiness.org.

 By Dave Jones, California Insurance Commissioner

June 4, 2012 (San Diego) The U.S. Health & Human Services Department has awarded $9,398,738 for healthcare in the communities of San Diego, Campo and Brawley.

“The Affordable Care Act invests in our community health centers and helps make healthcare accessible and affordable. Close to $10 million for healthcare locally means new jobs and the ability to serve more patients,” Congressman Bob Filner (D-San Diego) said, noting that since 2009, employment at community health centers nationwide has increased by 15 percent.

January 22, 2012 (Washington D.C.) -- Despite pressure from the powerful U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops lobby, the White House announced today that the President would not call for an expansion of the religious exemption in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services'(HHS) proposed rule regarding contraceptive coverage without cost-sharing by female employees.