Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
California Breaks Ground In Offering Health Coverage To Children In U.S. Illegally
A budget deal between Gov. Jerry Brown and legislative leaders would make California the first in the nation to offer state-subsidized health care to children who are in the country illegally. The $115.4 billion agreement announced Tuesday is expected to win easy approval from the Senate and Assembly before the fiscal year begins July 1, and its immigrant health care provisions were touted by its backers as a necessity in the face of federal inaction. (Lin, 6/16)
Immigrant children who are in the country illegally would receive public healthcare coverage in California under a budget deal announced Tuesday by Gov. Jerry Brown and legislative leaders. An estimated 170,000 immigrants 18 and younger could qualify, marking another victory for advocates and lawmakers who have worked to make the state more welcoming to unauthorized residents. (Megerian and Mason, 6/16)
Health care advocates have not slowed their lobbying in Sacramento, even after the Legislature passed an on-time balanced budget on Monday. On Wednesday, for instance, a 24-hour protest is planned outside the Capitol Building. Advocates who want to support the child care effort in California have announced they will hold an all-day, all-night vigil on the Capitol steps to push the governor to sign the budget as it stands. The governor has stated opposition to a number of health care provisions passed in Monday's budget, including full-scope Medi-Cal coverage of the state's undocumented children. (Gorn, 6/16)
And in Florida, a budget deal is reached that does not include Medicaid expansion -
Leaders of the Florida Legislature agreed to a nearly $80 billion state budget loaded with new projects late Monday, clearing the way for lawmakers to end months of squabbling and adjourn their special session Friday. ... (Senate President Andy) Gardiner wanted to expand health care using Medicaid funding, a proposal that House leaders vehemently opposed and ultimately killed. At the same time, lawmakers were forced to deal with how to pay for a different Medicaid program called the Low Income Pool, a $2.2 billion fund that originally had been set to expire on June 30. Federal officials in May, however, gave tentative approval for $1 billion for LIP and a two-year extension to the program, which pays hospitals for health care services for the poor and uninsured. House and Senate leaders eventually agreed to use $400 million in state funding to bolster LIP. (Rohrer & Sweeney, 6/16)
