Rising Costs and State Cuts Threaten Medi-Cal's Future 9/30/09

Medi-Cal provides health insurance for 6.8 million people — one in six Californians — and is a major source of funding for safety-net providers. A newly updated report from the California HealthCare Foundation reveals how the continuing rise of health care costs and increased demand for services — at a time of declining state revenues — are putting the squeeze on the program, health care providers, and beneficiaries. Details: http://www.chcf.org/topics/almanac/.

State budget may hold steady until mid-January 9/29/09

According to a story in the San Jose Mercury News, “the state's fragile revenue and spending projections ought to hold up until at least mid-January — and maybe even beyond, analysts and economists say. If true, it would mark the longest stretch in more than a year when deficit-slashing wasn't the topic du jour in Sacramento...Still, problems with the budget — taped up with accounting tricks and other one-time fixes — are probably due to hit after the first of the year.” Details: http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_13422566?source=most_emailed.

State Government Reform Proposals Take Shape 9/24/09

Repair California, a coalition of proponents of a constitutional convention to change how the state is governed said today they plan to submit language for two related ballot measures to the state attorney general's office in mid to late October. Meanwhile, another reform group, California Forward, is also in the late stages of drafting formal proposals intended to fix the state’s budget and management problems.

New nonprofit provision proposed for health care reform 9/23/09

Several Senate Finance Committee members have proposed that nonprofits be eligible for tax credits designed to help small businesses offer health insurance to their employees in legislation to overhaul the health-care system. The bill <http://finance.senate.gov/sitepages/leg/LEG%202009/091609%20Americas_Healthy_Future_Act.pdf> unveiled last week by the committee’s chairman, Democrat Max Baucus of Montana, offers federal tax credits to small businesses, but it would benefit only employers that pay income tax — a category that excludes most nonprofit groups. Details: <http://philanthropy.com/news/government/9568/senators-propose-nonprofit-eligibility-for-health-insurance-tax-credits> .

Nonprofit voices needed in health care debate 9/17/09

As the national debate on health care reform moves forward, it’s important that congressional offices and administration officials hear their constituents about the role of nonprofits as employers and the importance of providing incentives to small nonprofit employers that are comparable to those offered to for-profit employers. For tools and information to assist you with this effort: Independent Sector and the National Council of Nonprofits.

New health care proposal has key nonprofit provisions 9/16/09

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D,Mont.) today introduced the “America's Healthy Future Act,” his long-awaited health care reform legislation. The Finance Committee will meet to begin voting on this proposal next week. Included in the bill are provisions for nonprofit consumer owned and operated health care plans as well as requirements for nonprofit hospitals “to conduct a community health needs assessment at least once every three years and adopt an implementation strategy to meet the community needs.” Details: http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/national/2009/09/16/103810.htm.

New Data Shows Rise in Poverty, Fall in Job-Based Health Coverage 9/14/09

Census Bureau data released late last week shows that more than 5.3 million Californians had incomes below the federal poverty line in 2008, a substantial increase from the previous year. In addition, the share of Californians under the age of 65 with job-based health coverage slipped to 56.2 percent, continuing a multiyear downward trend. Details: http://www.cbp.org/.

Mayors , Entertainment Industry Promote Volunteerism 9/11/09

LA Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson and 15 other mayors from around the nation today announced a new coalition to promote volunteerism as a way to help cities combat their most pressing problems. The mayors hope to persuade their colleagues to join the coalition by signing the coalition’s Declaration of Service. Details: http://www.citiesofservice.org. At the same time, the Entertainment Industry Foundation announced a separate multi-year campaign to enlist television networks and the wider entertainment industry in an effort to promote volunteerism.

Health care speech provokes wide range of reactions 9/10/09

Nonprofit organizations and leaders responded to President Barack Obama’s address on health care to a joint session of Congress last night with views ranging from relief and enthusiasm to doubt and scepticism. For liberal viewpoints, see http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ ; for conservative reactions, see http://www.cato.org/For text of the President’s remarks: http://www.whitehouse.gov/. For a video of the speech and responses from elected officials: http://www.c-span.org/.

The Hidden Health Care Crisis for Nonprofits 9/9/09

New data generated by the Johns Hopkins Nonprofit Listening Post Project reveal that health care costs are also producing a so-far hidden crisis for America’s nonprofit organizations and the nearly 13 million workers they employ. The impact is already being felt in organizational decisions to stop offering, or reduce coverage of, health benefits, in higher employee co-pays and shares of insurance costs, and in pressures to hold down wages, shift to part-time employees, and even reduce mission-critical services. Details: http://ccss.jhu.edu/.

California Issues Last of IOUs 9/4/09

As the state issued its final IOU yesterday, two of California's leading banks have announced they'll resume honoring the notes. The state began issuing IOUs on July 2 in order to conserve cash as the state Legislature wrestled with a $26 billion deficit. Wells, BofA and other leading banks refused to accept IOUs after July 10, creating a cash flow crisis for many nonprofits and other state vendors. Details: http://www.sacbee.com/politics/story/2159610.html?mi_rss=State%2520Politics.

Attorney General Cautions Donors to Wildfire Victims 9/3/09

California Attorney Jerry Brown has urged Californians who want to help wildfire victims to avoid "sham charities.” In a news release, Brown warns "Californians should give only to reputable organizations so their donations don't end up lining the pockets of criminals and opportunists." Details: http://ag.ca.gov/newsalerts/release.php?id=1794.