What’s happening: At the inaugural Proposition (Prop) 35 “Protect Access to Health Care Act” Stakeholder Advisory Committee meeting, held April 14, CHA and other stakeholders urged the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) to move forward quickly with a payment methodology that meets two primary goals.
What else to know: Stakeholders urged the committee to develop a payment methodology that will not only be approved by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (a requirement for the state to receive federal funding), but also ensure that hospitals receive 2025 and 2026 payments — totaling as much as $1.4 billion — without unnecessary delays.
At the meeting, DHCS asserted that it has neither missed any deadlines nor jeopardized the ability to receive federal funding, and it requested spending proposals from committee members by April 25. Additionally, Linnea Koopmans, CEO for Local Health Plans of California (which represents 17 public, nonprofit Medi-Cal managed care plans), was elected as committee chairperson. DHCS also provided background around Medi-Cal financing.
As required by the Protect Access to Health Care Act of 2024 (Prop 35) — approved by voters in November 2024 — the advisory committee must convene no less than biennially. At this initial meeting, the committee said it will meet again in May, but an exact date was not set.
Jesse Delis
Adam Dorsey
