Molina Healthcare, Inc. has announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, Molina Healthcare of California (MHC), has been selected by the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) to participate as an integrated health plan in California’s proposed demonstration project to provide healthcare services for beneficiaries who are eligible for both Medi-Cal and Medicare (dual-eligible beneficiaries) in San Diego County. In addition to San Diego County, Los Angeles County was also selected by DHCS for a dual-eligible demonstration project. MHC will participate in the Los Angeles County dual-eligible pilot program as a subcontracted health plan.

As the U.S. Supreme Court hears oral arguments on the constitutionality of the Obama administration's healthcare reform law, a healthcare visionary says the outcome of the case will have little effect on the future direction of healthcare.

This Week in Government Health IT: Betting on SCOTUS, PPACA turns two, why EHRs have not improved since 1982, huge HIT strides otherwise, checking with a NwHIN Exchange partner, and the role lobbyists play in health policy.

Leveraging NwHIN-Exchange has enabled Community Health Information Collaborative (CHIC) to win contracts with federal agencies such as the SSA and VA, improve patient care locally and become the HIE people look to as an example in its region. CHIC CEO Cheryl Stephens discusses how it all works.

Illinois starts to roll out health reform but some groups recommend market solutions to Medicaid and state budget as more effective.

The National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) will release a new report about the unmet primary health care needs of millions of Americans at a Capitol Hill briefing on Tuesday, March 20, 2012, at 10:30 a.m.

The Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (MD DHMH) awarded CSC (NYSE: CSC) a contract to replace the state’s Medicaid Management Information System (MMIS) and provide fiscal agent services for selected DHMH programs. The contract has a five-year base period with three two-year options, bringing the estimated total value to $297 million.

The National Association of Psychiatric Health Systems (NAPHS) Board of Trustees this week made recommendations in key policy areas that have the potential to significantly improve the lives of individuals with mental and additive disorders. The meeting (led by Board Chair Blair Stam, executive vice president, Signature Healthcare Services, Corona, CA) resulted in Board actions and discussion around three issues. Parity Implementation

HHS circulated the final rule for health insurance exchanges on Monday and within are stipulations likely to disappoint consumer advocates.