California lawmakers head to DC in search of federal aid for health care reform | CAIVN

California lawmakers head to DC in search of federal aid for health care reform | CAIVN

While much has been made in the media over Republican governors and state attorney generals threatening to dismantle the health care reform bill signed into law by President Obama last month, California’s Democratic leadership and Governor Schwarzenegger have made implementing the new law, with plenty of federal help, a top priority.

This week, Senate leader Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento) and Assembly Speaker John Perez (D-Los Angeles) spent Wednesday in Washington, DC in meetings with Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), and White House staff in hopes of securing billions of federal dollars to implement health care reform.

This DC visit follows a visit by the governor who is credited with bringing in $675 million for reimbursements for Medicare prescription drug benefits.

Specifically, Steinberg and Perez were seeking:

• A Medicaid waiver for $2 billion a year for the next five years to help California implement its health care system before major federal health reform measures take effect in 2014. Specifically, the waiver is being sought for uninsured Californians who earn up to 200 percent of poverty (2010 Federal poverty level for a family of four is $22,050) so that they are eligible for Medi-Cal.

• A six-month extension of an enhanced federal match for the state's Medi-Cal and child welfare programs.

• A one-year extension of federal stimulus funding for social services.