“We are once again taking first-in-the-nation action with the California Health Benefit Exchange,” said Schwarzenegger. “Both Kim and Susan are tremendous leaders that know how to get things done. With their deep understanding of health care, public policy and hands-on attitude, I know they will help build an exchange that will create a competitive marketplace, improve quality of care and reduce health care costs for California consumers.”
Belshé has a distinguished background in the health care field with nearly 20 years of experience in related policy fields.
Most recently, she has served as the secretary of the California Health and Human Services Agency since she was first appointed by Schwarzenegger in 2003. In this capacity, Belshé has advised the governor on all health, social services and rehabilitative policies, and serves as chair of the Governor’s Task Force on Health Care Reform Implementation.
Prior to joining the Schwarzenegger administration, she served in a number of leadership positions in state government under the administration of Gov. Pete Wilson, including deputy secretary of the then-Health and Welfare Agency from 1991 to 1993 and director of the then-Department of Health Services from 1993 to 1999.
After over a decade of public service in federal and state government, she served as the program director for The James Irvine Foundation from 1999 to 2003, a multipurpose foundation dedicated to expanding opportunities for the people of California.
Throughout her career, Belshé has served in a number of civic capacities. She is a board member of the Great Valley Center, which is dedicated to promoting the sustainability of California’s Central Valley region, and a founding commissioner of the California Children and Families Commission.
Additionally, she served as an executive committee member for the National Academy for State Health Policy, an organization dedicated to assisting states with solutions to complex health policy issues.
Belshé, 51, of Sacramento, earned a master's degree in public and international affairs from Princeton University and a bachelor of arts degree in government from Harvard. Belshé is a Republican.
“The exchange will improve the way millions of Californians get health insurance in our state,” said Belshé. “I am honored to have this opportunity and I look forward to using my knowledge in health care policy to help shape the Exchange and focus competition on price, quality and service.”
Kennedy has served as chief of staff to Schwarzenegger since 2006. In this role, she has served as the governor’s chief advisor on all policy matters including the implementation of health care reform in California.
Previously, Kennedy served on the California Public Utilities Commission from 2003 to 2005, where she focused on regulatory consistency and broadband, infrastructure investment and promoting economic development. In addition, she served as a member of the California Bay-Delta Authority from 2003 to 2006, the statewide body responsible for overseeing the restoration of the San Francisco Bay Delta.
Kennedy served as cabinet secretary and deputy chief of staff for Gov. Gray Davis from 1999 to 2003, where she was principal liaison to the cabinet and state agencies, departments, boards and commissions.
Prior to joining the Davis Administration, Kennedy served as communications director for U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein from 1995 to 1998.
Kennedy, 50, of Marin County, graduated with a degree in management from Saint Mary’s College and attended San Francisco State University. Kennedy is a Democrat.
“I am honored Gov. Schwarzenegger has given me the opportunity to reform our health care system in California,” said Kennedy. “If we can do it in California, it can be done around the country. I look forward to developing a competitive health exchange that will give individuals and small businesses more affordable health care options.”
The positions do not require Senate confirmation and there is no salary. Both appointments are effective January 1, 2011.
Earlier this year, Governor Schwarzenegger signed AB 1602 and SB 900 making California the first state-in-the-nation to enact legislation creating a health benefit exchange under federal health care reform.
The California Health Benefit Exchange is an entity that will help California consumers and small businesses shop for and buy affordable health insurance starting in 2014.
The exchange will be governed by a five-member board appointed by the governor and the legislature. Between now and the end of 2013, the exchange board and staff will develop procedures and criteria to enroll Californians in the exchange and select qualified health plans to participate.
Similar to the purchasing pool proposed as part of comprehensive health reform advanced by Gov. Schwarzenegger in 2007, the exchange will enhance competition and give individuals and employees of small businesses the same advantages available to large employer groups including a more stable risk pool, greater purchasing power, more competition among insurers and detailed information regarding the price, quality and service of health coverage.
Schwarzenegger and his administration have begun implementing key elements of the federal health care reform before the 2014 start date.
In April, Schwarzenegger announced the state will contract with the federal government to operate a temporary health insurance program for medically uninsured individuals with preexisting medical conditions.
In July, the governor’s administration submitted the state’s proposal to the federal government to establish and operate the federal Pre-existing Condition Insurance Plan through a public-private partnership with contracted vendors and overseen by the California Managed Risk Medical Insurance Board.
To implement this program and expand affordable health coverage to uninsured Californians with pre-existing medical conditions, Schwarzenegger also signed legislation creating the Federal Temporary High Risk Health Insurance Fund to receive $761 million in federal funding.
Schwarzenegger's appointments included Sheriff Bill Brown of Lompoc, Dr. Ralph Nelson of Visalia, and Tina Wooton of Santa Barbara. He also reappointed Patrick Henning Jr. of West Sacramento, and San Franciscans Dr. David Pating and Eduardo Vega.
The 16-member MHSOAC was formed by the passage of Proposition 63, the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA), in November 2004.
The MHSOAC is responsible for overarching oversight and accountability for implementation of the MHSA.
Sheriff Brown has worked as a sheriff and coroner for the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office since 2007. He fills the seat of a county sheriff.
Dr. Nelson currently serves as a board member on the National Alliance on Mental Illness. Nelson fills the seat of a family member.
Tina Wooton has worked as consumer empowerment manager for Alcohol, Drug, and Mental Health Services of Santa Barbara County since 2009. Wooton fills the seat of an individual with lived experience.
Patrick Henning Jr. has been the legislative advocate for the California Council of Laborers since 2003. Henning fills the seat of a representative of a labor organization.
Dr. David Pating has been chief of addiction medicine and the medical director of the Chemical Dependency Recovery Program for the San Francisco Kaiser Permanente Medical Center since 2001. He fills the seat of a physician specializing in alcohol and drug treatment.
Eduardo Vega is the Executive Director of the Mental Health Association of San Francisco. He fills the seat of an individual with lived experience.
Members of the MHSOAC serve without compensation.
Doors open at 6 p.m., and dinner will be served at 7 p.m.
Two speakers will share their experience, strength and hope with a DJ dance to follow.
This event will also include a potluck dessert, raffle and door prize.
For more information about this event call Christy at 707-694-8516.
This event is open to all with a suggested donation of $10.
Any questions about Narcotics Anonymous call the help and information line at 707-262-0132.
She also took time to highlight new benefits coming in 2011.
“The Affordable Care Act has helped millions of Americans across the country gain more control over their insurance coverage, receive higher quality health care and start seeing some savings in their pocket,” said Secretary Sebelius. “And there is more in store for Americans under the new law in 2011, including scrutiny of large premium increases, free physicals for Medicare beneficiaries, and important new programs to improve patient safety. Still, some want to eliminate these benefits and put insurance companies back in charge. We won’t go back and we are committed to delivering the benefits of reform to the American people.”
“In California, the Affordable Care Act has brought in approximately $431.9 million dollars in grants for public health, insurance oversight and Exchange planning, 214,650 Medicare beneficiaries have had their prescription drug costs lowered and 440 employers have had their early retiree health insurance costs significantly reduced,” said HHS Region 9 Director Herb Schultz.
Some important benefits of the law that went into effect in the first nine months:
Patient’s Bill of Rights: On September 23, 2010, the Affordable Care Act’s Patient’s Bill of Rights took effect and began protecting consumers.
The Patient’s Bill of Rights stops insurance companies from denying coverage to children based on a pre-existing condition, dropping coverage when you get sick because you made a mistake on your application and putting lifetime caps on the dollar amount that they will spend on benefits. In the past, patients with cancer or other chronic diseases ran the risk of hitting a lifetime cap and losing access to care. The law also restricts most insurance companies’ use of low annual dollar limits on benefits. In 2014, annual limits will be eliminated.
In addition, the law prevents denial of coverage or services without offering Americans in new insurance plans the chance to appeal the decision to an independent third party.
Coverage for young adults: Young adults are able to remain on their parents’ health plan until they turn 26 if the plan covers dependent children and if coverage isn’t offered to them through their job.
Small business tax credits: Starting Jan. 1, 2010, up to 4 million small businesses became eligible for tax credits to help them provide insurance benefits to their workers, thanks to the Affordable Care Act. The first phase of this provision provides a credit worth up to 35 percent of the employer’s contribution to the employees’ health insurance. Small nonprofit organizations may receive up to a 25 percent credit.
HealthCare.gov: On July 1, 2010, the Administration launched www.HealthCare.gov. A first-of-its-kind Web site, www.HealthCare.gov helps you make informed decisions about health care coverage by offering easy-to-understand information about what health plans are available in your state; how much they cost; what they cover, and lots more information tailored to your specific needs.
Insurer oversight: The Affordable Care Act also provides new tools to help hold health insurers accountable to consumers. This includes new support for states for efforts to establish or strengthen consumer assistance programs. In 2011, insurance companies will be required to spend at least 80 percent of premium dollars on health care and quality improvements instead of overhead, salaries, or administrative expenses – or provide rebates to consumers.
Prescription drug cost relief: In 2010, eligible seniors who fell into the Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage “donut hole” received a tax-free $250 rebate check to help defray their out-of-pocket costs for their prescription drugs. Over 2.8 million seniors and persons living with disabilities have received this benefit to date to help them afford their medications.
Support for early retiree coverage: The Early Retiree Reinsurance Program established under the Affordable Care Act provides much needed financial relief for employers so early retirees and their families can continue to have quality, affordable insurance. Already, more than 4,500 businesses, unions, states, local governments and nonprofit organizations have been approved to take part in the program.
Pre-existing condition insurance plan: Thousands of uninsured Americans with pre-existing conditions who were shut out of the health insurance market were finally able to get the coverage and care they needed through the new Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan (PCIP) program.
Reducing waste, fraud and abuse: Medicare has continued to take strong action to reduce payment errors, waste, fraud, and abuse. Current efforts to fight fraud returned more than $2.5 billion to the Medicare Trust Funds in FY 2009 alone. The president has made a commitment to reduce fraud in original Medicare by 50 percent by 2012. The Affordable Care Act makes an historic, ten-year, $350 million investment to build on these efforts to prevent, detect and fight fraud in Medicare, Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program, including new screening procedures for health care providers.
Strengthening the health care workforce: The Affordable Care act provided $250 million in funding that, along with other funding in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, will train up to 16,000 primary care physicians, physician assistants and nurse practitioners over the next 5 years. In addition, the Administration allocated $250 million in funds from the 2010 Prevention and Public Health Fund to programs to support activities such as community initiatives and the development of the public health infrastructure that can help prevent disease and illness before it starts. Equally important, it awarded and made available over $1 billion in funding to strengthen community health centers.
“In 2011, Americans will continue to see new benefits under the Affordable Care Act,” said Sebelius. “Seniors and people on Medicare will have access to free preventive care and lower cost prescription drugs. Insurance companies will have to justify high premium increases and states will have new tools to keep premiums low. And we’ll continue our efforts to improve the quality of care for all Americans.”
Some Affordable Care Act benefits coming in 2011:
Value for your premium dollar: Starting in 2011, the Affordable Care Act will help tackle rising health insurance premium costs by having insurers that spend less than 80 percent of premium dollars on health care and quality improvements, as opposed to administrative, overhead and marketing costs, to provide a rebate to enrollees. In addition, the new law will provides additional resources to help States crack down on unreasonable health insurance premium hikes.
New benefits for Medicare beneficiaries: Starting on Jan. 1, 2011, people with Medicare coverage can get an annual physical examination at no cost to them, and people new to Medicare will no longer have out-of-pocket costs for the “Welcome to Medicare” physical exam. Also starting on Jan. 1, 2011, as the next step in closing the Medicare Part D coverage gap known as the “donut hole,” those reaching the coverage gap will automatically get a 50 percent discount on covered brand-name prescription drugs while in the gap.
Safer patients, higher quality care: The Affordable Care Act provides a number of new policies and resources to help improve the quality of care Americans receive, and to keep patients safer.
Better access to primary care: Too many communities suffer from a shortage of primary care doctors. To help ensure people on Medicare continue to have access to primary care providers, the Affordable Care Act is providing a 10 percent Medicare bonus payment for primary care services.
“Repealing the Affordable Care Act would eliminate these benefits, putting the insurance companies back in charge and making it harder to find a doctor,” said Sebelius. “We must not stop going forward. In 2011, Americans will continue to see new benefits under the Affordable Care Act.”
For more state-specific information about implementation of the Affordable Care Act, visit www.HealthCare.gov/center.