California Black Media
Tens of Thousands of Black Californians Retain Health Coverage After Post-Covid Redetermination
Over 36,000 Black Californians maintained coverage with a health insurance provider through the 14-month Medi-Cal to Covered California redetermination process led by the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) and Covered California. This number does not include Californians who have employer or private insurance or those who have been enrolled in Medi-Cal or Covered California and have met all the eligibility requirements for both programs. In total, more than 158,000 Californians retained their health coverage through the statewide redetermination initiative, which began in April 2023 and ran until June of this year, according to DHCS.
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By McKenzie Jackson, California Black Media
Over 36,000 Black Californians maintained coverage with a health insurance provider through the 14-month Medi-Cal to Covered California redetermination process led by the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) and Covered California
This number does not include Californians who have employer or private insurance or those who have been enrolled in Medi-Cal or Covered California and have met all the eligibility requirements for both programs.
In total, more than 158,000 Californians retained their health coverage through the statewide redetermination initiative, which began in April 2023 and ran until June of this year, according to DHCS.
Covered California Chief Medical Officer and Chief Deputy Executive Director Dr. S. Monica Soni said the availability of affordable health coverage can help prevent negative medical outcomes in the Golden State’s Black communities. That coverage includes Medi-Cal, California’s version of the Medicaid program — which offers free or low-cost health care access to low-income people across the nation — or one of the affordable health plans offered through Covered California, the state’s health insurance exchange
“We know primary care is one of the ways to have good health and wellness — from behavioral health to physical health to instances where someone has a substance abuse disorder,” said Soni, also a primary care doctor and the first Black Chief Medical Officer at Covered California.
“Our communities are some of the most incredible community-oriented, health-seeking ambitious folks,” Soni continued. “We have a lot of assets in our communities, but it is true we have higher rates of death for many cancers. We have more obesity. We have really higher rates of diabetes and high blood pressure as well.”
The redetermination project kicked off when Medi-Cal resumed its renewal process to establish eligibility for over 15 million of its members following the end of the federal continuous coverage requirement put in place during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Covered California automatically enrolled individuals in one of its low-cost health plans with insurers such as Aetna Health, Anthem Blue Cross of California, Health Net, Molina Health Plan, or Valley Health Plan if they lost Medi-Cal coverage and qualified for Covered California.
According to a survey conducted last fall on behalf of Covered California by NORC and Slosar Research, 82% of people in the Medi-Cal renewal processes were covered through employer- insurance; were already enrolled with Covered California, or returned to Medi-Cal.
Soni stated that the main obstacle that prevents people without health insurance from selecting a plan through Covered California is a belief the price will be out of their budget.
“Sometimes people are worried about the cost,” she explained. “We have zero-dollar and $10-a-month plans, depending on household income. Regardless of what health plan you choose all of your primary care costs are the same. We believe you should be able to shop for the health plan you want.”
Covered California’s open enrollment period runs from November of this year to January 2025. Soni said Covered California will have record levels of support and affordability during the upcoming year.
“Incredible support we are getting from the state and federal government makes us able to do that,” she said.
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Oakland Post: Week of February 19 – 25, 2025
The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of February 19 – 25, 2025
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Two New California Bills Are Aiming to Lower Your Prescription Drug Costs
“When basic life necessities like medication become unaffordable in Blue States, working people pay the price. As Democrats, we should be leading on making people’s lives better and more affordable,” continued Weiner. It is past time California caught up with other states and put basic protections in place to contain the astronomical cost of basic medications.”
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By Edward Henderson, California Black Media
Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) has introduced two bills in the State Senate that could lower prescription drug prices for California residents.
Senate Bill (SB) 40, or the Insulin Affordability Act — and accompanying legislation, SB 41, or Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) Reform — comprise Wiener’s Prescription Drug Affordability (PDA) Package.
Together, the bills would cap monthly co-pays for insulin at $35 (SB 40) and create regulations for pharmacy benefit managers (PBM) whose negotiation practices, critics say, have resulted in steep price increases for prescription drugs (SB 41).
“It makes no sense that people with diabetes in states like West Virginia can access affordable insulin while Californians are stuck with higher prices,” said Wiener in a statement.
“When basic life necessities like medication become unaffordable in Blue States, working people pay the price. As Democrats, we should be leading on making people’s lives better and more affordable,” continued Weiner. It is past time California caught up with other states and put basic protections in place to contain the astronomical cost of basic medications.”
SB 40’s proposed $35 monthly co-pay was written, in part, in response to the price of insulin tripling over the past decade, Wiener’s office says. As a result of the increase, one in four people using insulin has reported insulin underuse because they can’t afford the full dose.
About 4,037,000 adult Californians have diabetes, with an additional 263,000 cases of Type 1 diabetes diagnosed each year. This rate in new cases disproportionately affects the elderly, men, and low-income patients, Wiener’s office reports.
According to Wiener, SB 41 is his follow-up to similar legislation he introduced last year, SB 966, which was vetoed by Gov. Newsom.
Middlemen in the pharmaceutical industry, PBMs buy prescription drugs from manufacturers and then sell them to pharmacies and health plans. Their position as intermediaries allows them to charge high administrative fees and significantly higher prices for drugs to pharmacies than they paid originally. This practice results in higher costs for patients seeking the prescriptions they need.
“On behalf of the Californians we serve who live with chronic and rare diseases, we are grateful to Sen. Wiener for his commitment and attempt to hold pharmacy middlemen accountable for their anti-patient and anti-pharmacy practices,” stated Liz Helms, California Chronic Care Coalition President & CEO. “Health care costs continue to rise when patients cannot afford medically necessary medications.”
SB 41 proposes that all PBMs be licensed and that they disclose basic information regarding their business practices to the licensing entity. It also calls for a number of other requirements and prohibitions, including limiting how fees may be charged and requiring transparency related to all fees assessed.
“This bill addresses some of the worst abuses by pharmacy benefit managers: lack of transparency, unfair business practices, steering, and price gouging,” said Jamie Court, President of Consumer Watchdog.
In 2022, drug spending in California grew by 12%, while total health premiums rose by just 4%. Last year, more than half of Californians either skipped or postponed mental and physical healthcare due to cost, putting their safety and well-being at risk. One in three reported holding medical debt, including half of low-income Californians.
So far, there is no organized opposition to the Prescription Drug Affordability package.
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Tony Thurmond Urges Educators to Stay Focused Amid Federal Funding Battle
In a statement and a letter to California’s local educational agencies (LEAs), Thurmond praised efforts to reduce chronic absenteeism and close achievement gaps, particularly for socioeconomically disadvantaged students. “Now is not the time to be distracted by external efforts to demean and divide,” Thurmond wrote. “Please continue to stay the course with local programs that are producing results. Our students need consistency, support, and community more than ever.”
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By Bo Tefu, California Black Media
California Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond has urged educators to remain focused on student achievement following a court ruling that temporarily blocks the Trump administration from freezing federal funding for schools, health care, law enforcement, and disaster relief.
A U.S. District Court judge in Rhode Island issued a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) on Jan. 31, halting federal efforts to pause funding while a lawsuit led by California Attorney General Rob Bonta and 22 other state attorneys general moves forward. Thurmond, a declarant in the case, welcomed the decision and reassured educators that funding for critical school programs remains in place.
In a statement and a letter to California’s local educational agencies (LEAs), Thurmond praised efforts to reduce chronic absenteeism and close achievement gaps, particularly for socioeconomically disadvantaged students.
“Now is not the time to be distracted by external efforts to demean and divide,” Thurmond wrote. “Please continue to stay the course with local programs that are producing results. Our students need consistency, support, and community more than ever.”
Thurmond emphasized that state officials will continue advocating for stable funding to ensure schools can maintain and expand programs that help students succeed.
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