California passes bill specifying minimum hospital discount for uninsured -AND- CMS publishes state SCHIP allotments for FY 2005

[CAL/AAEM News Service]

California passes bill specifying minimum hospital discount for uninsured

August 25, 2004


The California legislature this week passed a bill (SB 379) that would require
hospitals in the state to provide financial assistance in the form of charity
care or payment allowances to uninsured patients whose income is at or below
400% of the federal poverty level. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has not indicated
whether he will sign the legislation, which is opposed by two state health care
agencies in the executive branch. The California Healthcare Association also
opposes the legislation, noting that hospitals across the state already are
addressing the issues on a voluntary basis. In February, the CHA adopted
voluntary guidelines for assisting low-income uninsured patients that recommend
member hospitals provide financial assistance for patients at or below 300% of
the federal poverty level. The guidelines also recommend hospitals limit
expected payments from such patients to amounts received from Medicare and
other government-sponsored health programs, do not garnish wages or place liens
on primary residences to collect unpaid bill, and clearly post and communicate
their financial assistance policies to patients.


Source: AHA News Now (www.ahanews.com)


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CMS publishes state SCHIP allotments for FY 2005

August 27, 2004


The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services published a notice today
announcing each state and territory's allotment of the $4.05 billion
appropriated by the federal government for the State Children's Health
Insurance Program for fiscal year 2005, beginning Oct. 1. The allotments can be
used to match state expenditures on the program in the fiscal year, with
unexpended amounts carried over to 2006 and 2007.  For more, see the Federal
Register notice under "Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services" at
http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/fedreg/a040827c.html.


Source: AHA News Now (www.ahanews.com)


=====
Cyrus Shahpar & Brian Potts 
Managing Editors, CAL/AAEM News Service 
UC-Irvine



		
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