92% of Eligible Covered California Enrollees Have Renewed Plans

On Wednesday, Covered California officials announced that most residents who purchased a health plan through the exchange last year have renewed their coverage for 2015, KPCC's "KPCC News" reports.

Details of Renewals

About one million Californians who bought private coverage during the Affordable Care Act's first open enrollment period were eligible for renewal (Florido, "KPCC News," KPCC, 1/28).

About 944,000 of those who were eligible to renew have done so -- representing a renewal rate of 92% (Covered California release, 1/28).

Officials announced that about 576,000 consumers allowed their coverage to automatically renew, while about 368,000 decided to shop for a new plan. As of December 2014, about 54,000 enrollees had switched plans, according to "KPCC News" ("KPCC News," KPCC, 1/28).

State data on the renewals show customer retention rates of:

• 99% for Kaiser Permanente;
• 94% for Anthem Blue Cross;
• 94% for Blue Shield of California; and
• 90% for Health Net.

Implications

Charles Bacchi, CEO of the California Association of Health Plans, said, "[W]ith 90% of enrollees sticking with their existing health plan, it is clear that there is stability in the market and people are pleased with their coverage" (Terhune, Los Angeles Times, 1/28).

Covered California Executive Director Peter Lee added, "Consumers liked the plan they were in, liked the providers they have access to and did not see the need [to change coverage] -- even though one-third actively logged onto the system and looked around" at other plans ("KPCC News," KPCC, 1/28).

http://www.californiahealthline.org/articles/2015/1/29/92-of-eligible-covered-california--enrollees-have-renewed-plans

Yet again, mental health funding act gets slammed

California voters don’t readily raise taxes. But because the cause was just, they made an exception in 2004 by authorizing a $1 billion-plus a year tax to help poor souls who struggle with mental illness.
“Our prisons and jails are full of thousands of people with mental illnesses who would not be there if they had been offered treatment,” Proposition 63’s backers said in the official ballot argument. “We should provide care before people end up on the streets, or behind bars.”
So the Little Hoover Commission report this week was beyond disheartening. The report said there is no proof that the $13.2 billion generated by the Proposition 63-imposed income tax on wealthy Californians during the past decade has done what it set out to do.
“After 10 years, the state cannot provide basic answers to basic questions: Has homelessness declined? Are programs helping Californians stay at work or in school? Who is being served and who is falling through the cracks?” the state government-run oversight commission said.
The report does not break much new ground. The California State Auditor reported in 2013 that the state provided little assurance of the Mental Health Services Act’s effectiveness. The latest report does, however, serve a function by making clear that not much has changed.
Former Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg, the initiative’s leading proponent, said in an interview on Wednesday that data proving the act has worked would be delivered within six weeks. We look forward to it.
In 2004, Proposition 63 backers told voters that by approving the Mental Health Services Act, they would greatly reduce costs for incarceration, medical care, homeless shelters and social service programs.
However, the latest report states the obvious: “Californians still see the mentally ill on their streets and see too often the impacts of mental illness in senseless crimes, suicides and inability to stay in school or on the job.
“Without conclusive data, no one knows how far the state has come in addressing mental illness through the act and how far it still has to go.”
Not far enough, evidently. The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation estimates that 28.4 percent of the inmates in state prison have some sort of mental illness diagnosis.
The commission points out that the Department of Health Care Services and the Mental Health Oversight and Accountability Commission are supposed to monitor how the money is spent. Additionally, the state allocates $86.9 million from Proposition 63 funds to 12 state agencies – count them, 12 – to administer aspects of the program.
Clearly, many departments claim to oversee parts of the $1 billion-plus, but no single agency is in charge.
The Little Hoover Commission refers to press reports that money has helped fund acupuncture, art and drama classes, sweat lodges, parenting classes, massage chairs, horseback riding therapy, yoga and anti-bullying programs. The commission does not, however, attempt to determine whether such programs make sense, a disappointment.
Thanks to voters’ compassion, California has spent a huge sum to care for severely mentally ill people in the past decade, more than any other state. Voters deserve a proper accounting of how that $13.2 billion has been spent. More to the point, the state and counties need to use that money for people who, through no fault of their own, cannot care for themselves

Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/opinion/editorials/article8539355.html#storylink=cpy

Van Nuys Neighborhood Council Dec Town Meeting

Here is the link  for the video of the special town hall meeting held in December to address Homelessness & Mental Illness. 
VNNC Homeless Summit Video http://wp.me/p4Bscn-QQ

NAMI Westside Los Angeles: Consolidation Means MH Dilution

On Thursday, there was an announcement that supervisor Antonovich is proposing to consolidate the three health agencies: Dept. of (1) Mental Health (2) Public Health, and (3) Health Services, in LA County into one agency.  This will be heard at the Supervisor's meetingnext Tuesday (1/13/15).

The problem with this action is that consolidating the three agencies will dilute the power of the Dept. of Mental Health.  By combining the agencies, less of a priority will be placed on mental health than with a single focused agency like the DMH.  Also, employees with less experience in mental health from outside of the DMH may end up holding positions involving mental health issues when the agencies are combined.  It is being pitched as a way to solve bureaucracy, but in fact it will break a system that has put a priority on mental health.  Please call your district supervisor and let them know how you feelbefore 1/13/15:

*If you're not sure which to call, just look it up here or just pick one or two.

First District

Hilda L. Solis (213) 974-4111

Second District

Mark Ridley-Thomas (213) 974-2222

Third District (westside)

Sheila Kuehl (213) 974-3333

Fourth District

Don Knabe (213) 974-4444

Fifth District

Michael D. Antonovich (213)974-5555

Los Angeles County Missing link: An accurate Homeless Count

Per the announcement today,  L A County historically is UNDERcounted so we really need to get it right this year. Here is the link for signing up for the Homeless Count on Jan 29, 2015 at 8:00pm.  This is a great opportunity to help our people in the community. You can choose your site where to volunteer. http://lahsa.nationbuilder.com/jrandall