California Legislature tackles bills to implement and improve health care reform 4/6/2010

The work to implement and improve health care reform at the state level starts today and will continue over the next few weeks in State Assembly and State Senate health policy committees. For a bill summaries and updates More Info...

Health care reform covers millions more for mental illness 3/31/2010

According to an article in The New York Times, health care reform promises to significantly improve funding for the treatment of mental illness. While the landmark Mental Health Parity Law passed in 2008 promised only to prevent insurance companies from discriminating between physical and mental illnesses and only when their policies already covered mental illness, the law signed by President Obama last week expands parity to a much wider pool, making it possible for millions more people to get coverage for substance abuse and mental illnesses. More Info...

Palin speaking fee prompts push for nonprofit transparency bill 3/30/2010

Sarah Palin is expected to raise nearly $200,000 for an appearance at CSU-Stanislaus in June. But the school foundation hosting the $500-a-plate event won't say what they are paying her, or even how much the party will cost - and that has angered State Senator Lealand Yee (D-San Francisco), who has been trying to pass a law that would extend the California Public Records Act to those foundations. Under pressure from CAN, Yee amended the original version of the bill that would have swept in almost any nonprofit collaboration with UC, CSU or community colleges so that it now applies only to nonprofits formally affiliated with a campus. More Info...

Healthcare Reform will burden nonprofit health care providers 3/26/2010

With the largest number of immigrants in the nation, California will be deeply impacted by health care reform provisions that restrict immigrant access to private and public insurance. Because of those restrictions, immigrants without health insurance will end up in hospital emergency wards and community health care clinics. More Info...

State budget hit by healthcare overhaul 3/25/2010

Federal reforms could cost the state $2 billion to $3 billion annually. California officials say there needs to be more of a partnership with the U.S. government. But Anthony Wright, executive secretary of the nonprofit advocacy organization Health Access California, calls the overhaul "a boon rather that a burden. More Info...

House-passed health care reform will impact nonprofits 3/22/10

Late yesterday, the House voted to approve the Senate-passed Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and will send it to President Obama for his signature. The bill will expand coverage for the uninsured, create insurance exchanges for employers and individuals to purchase coverage, and provides a small employer credit to help small nonprofits and businesses afford coverage. Read more...

Nonprofits eligible for new tax break (3/19/10)

President Obama has signed into law the "Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment Act"(HIRE Act), which allows nonprofits and other employers to keep the 6.2 percent payroll taxes on certain new hires. This payroll tax forgiveness provision expires at the end of the year, so you will save more the sooner you hire eligible unemployed workers. Read more...