by George Lauer, California Healthline Features Editor The moral of the story about a disagreement over what Blue Shield of California is expected to do in return for approval to enter the Medi-Cal managed care market appears to be “pay close attention to how things are worded.” Consumer advocates and state officials thought the agreement this… Continue reading Disagreement Over Charity Contributions Simmers in Blue Shield’s Care1st Deal

The duals experience was supposed to be different in Orange County. Orange County was the last of seven counties to roll out the state’s duals demonstration project, also known as Cal MediConnect, which combines the resources and services for people dually eligible for Medi-Cal and Medicare. One of the concerns in the previous six counties’… Continue reading Orange County Seniors Opting Out of State’s Duals Demonstration Project

Original article published by David Gorn of California Healthline Zelda Gamble of Long Beach, 74, has diabetes, high blood pressure and severe rheumatoid arthritis that keeps her confined to a motorized wheelchair all day. Gamble is one of roughly 12,000 frail seniors across California who depend on the Multipurpose Senior Services Program, or MSSP, for… Continue reading If California Ends Coordinated Care Initiative, What Happens to Frail Senior Duals?

By Tracy Seipel for The San Jose Mercury News Julie Moreno felt lucky to be among more than 2.7 million previously uninsured Californians to be added to Medi-Cal, the state’s health care program for the poor. Until she needed cataract surgery. For three months after her November 2013 diagnosis, the 49-year-old Mountain View resident said, she… Continue reading Obamacare: Medi-Cal a Waiting Game for Many Low-Income Californians

With Half of California’s Kids On Medicaid, Advocates Worry About Service – Originally published by Kaiser Health News. Kaiser Health News (KHN) is a nonprofit national health policy news service. By Barbara Feder Ostrov, Kaiser Health News California’s Medi-Cal program has grown to cover nearly half of the state’s children, causing policymakers and child advocates to question… Continue reading With Half of California’s Kids On Medicaid, Advocates Worry About Service

Originally published by Kaiser Health News. Kaiser Health News (KHN) is a nonprofit national health policy news service. By Anna Gorman, Kaiser Health News Medi-Cal applicants who have been waiting for more than 45 days can receive temporary health benefits while officials determine eligibility for the public insurance program, a state Superior Court judge ruled this week. The… Continue reading Judge Orders California To Make Timely Decisions On Medicaid Coverage

Stakeholders have expressed concern about the California Dual Eligibles project, noting participants could be forced to seek a new managed care plan.

Concerns persist about California's dual eligibles transition project, one of 15 state pilots approved by CMS providing new approaches for coordinated care.

The latest on California politics and government, as reported in the The Sacramento Bee: February 6, 2012 Obama administration rejects California’s Medi-Cal copays Federal health officials rejected California’s bid to charge Medi-Cal copayments for everything from drugs to hospital visits, dealing a new blow to the state budget but relief to low-income patients and their… Continue reading In the news: Obama administration rejects Medi-Cal copays

From the Los Angeles Times 11/13/11 article, Red tape hampers care for patients who are poor and disabled. Such patients qualify for Medicare and Medicaid, but bouncing back and forth between state and federal agencies can increase medical costs and reduce their quality of care. M.C. Kim had four heart attacks in as many years.… Continue reading L.A. Times: Red tape hampers care for patients who are poor and disabled