government
CMS approves $10 billion Medicaid expansion in California
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Nov. 15, 2010
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services on Nov. 2 approved a $10 billion, five-year Medicaid waiver that will allow California to expand its Medicaid program. By July 2011, about 500,000 adults who earn up to 200% of the federal poverty level -- about $21,600 for an individual -- will have access to the program.
Eligible adults will receive a medical home and standard benefits, including inpatient and outpatient services, prescription drugs, mental health services and other medically necessary care. The waiver, made possible in part through provisions in the national health reform law, will provide $3.9 billion to California for uncompensated care costs, $3.3 billion to help public hospitals provide care and $2.9 billion for coverage of low-income individuals. The federal law will expand Medicaid eligibility nationwide to 133% of poverty by 2014.
It took California more than a year to negotiate the waiver with CMS, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said in a statement. "We will be able to expand coverage, improve the delivery of care and build a strong bridge to federal health care reform with increased federal resources."
The waiver allows the California Dept. of Health Care Services to test up to four health care delivery models for children with special health care needs, enroll seniors and the disabled into managed care, and help safety net hospitals invest in technology and new care delivery models.
More information about the state's Medicaid waiver is available online (link).
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2010/11/15/gvbf1115.htm.
