Sacramento, Medi-Cal Optional Benefits Rally - June 30, 2009
Effective July 1, 2009, California State will eliminate nine Medi-Cal “optional benefits,” including adult dental, psychology, chiropractic, acupuncture, speech therapy, incontinence creams and washes, audiology, optometry, and podiatry services.
Join the California Primary Care Association (CPCA) and others in garnering increased media and legislative attention to this critical issue at the State Capitol in Sacramento, California on June 30, 2009. The loss of Medi-Cal reimbursement for these services severely threatens the California health care safety-net and the overall health of our State.
RSVP with Jamila Iris Edwards of CPCA for more information.
Also, take a moment to watch an important video titled Celebrities and Clinics Speak Out. Share it with friends and colleagues. It is important that each individual engage their legislative representative before it's too late.
Troubled about the California State budget? Stay Informed.
Today, the State Legislature will vote on the Democratic Budget Proposal, with Republicans in both houses showing strong opposition to tax increases, and Governor Schwarzenegger vowing to veto the proposal.
Health Access and the non-partisan California Budget Project have each released publications, which analyze and compare the Governor's May proposal and the Budget Conference Committee's proposal.
To play a role in the current legislative proceedings, it is important to personally contact your representative and share your concerns. Click here locate your State Senator and Assemblymember.
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Broadband and Health Information Technology News
Sacramento Briefing: The Impact of Federal Stimulus Efforts on the Privacy and Security of Health Information in California
Friday, June 26
10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
State Capitol Building, Room 112
Downtown Sacramento
In California, the safeguarding of health data involves a complex combination of federal and state law. The state's health privacy law expands patient protections beyond those put in place by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996. However, the recently enacted economic stimulus legislation includes a number of improvements in federal health privacy law — in some cases providing stronger protections than those that previously existed for California patients.
The California HealthCare Foundation (CHCF) announces a Sacramento briefing to discuss the interactions of the privacy provisions and the impact on Californians. Speakers include:
Lunch to be provided after the briefing by the Center for Health Improvement.
RSVP to Eddie Collier of the Center for Health Improvement.
Valley Vision Regional Broadband Study Update
Valley Vision is partnering with the California Emerging Technology Fund, the Sacramento Area Council of Governments, the Sacramento Regional Community Foundation, and many other organizations to investigate improving broadband Internet infrastructure access and applications to all corners of the six-county region containing El Dorado, Placer, Sacramento, Sutter, Yolo and Yuba Counties.
The scoping study, which began June 1 and is set to be complete by Sept. 30, will provide a written report that synthesizes and summarizes information gathered from key informants regarding the current state and opportunity areas for regional collaboration in the broadband areas of e- health; telemedicine, and medical technologies; digital inclusion, and rural access. This study will also create the conditions for a potential regional broadband cohort, to work to advance strategies and policies improving broadband deployment and use.
Information gathering sessions in each focus area are underway, and Valley Vision will share a status update of the Regional Broadband Study mid-summer. For more information or questions, please contact Bill Mueller, CEO and Managing Partner, Valley Vision or visit the Valley Vision website.
Get Connected! Awareness Program Launched
Get Connected! – a statewide Public Awareness Program to increase broadband adoption and help close the Digital Divide – was launched last week. We invite you to become a Get Connected! Champion. Endorse the Program and allow the California Emerging Technology (CETF) to list you as a supporter on the CETF website cetfund.org. Please see the media release.
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3720 Folsom Boulevard, Suite B, Sacramento, CA 95816
Telephone: (916) 453-0780| Fax: (916) 453-0783
E-mail: advocate@csrha.org
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