Counties Work To Help Californians Navigate Bridge to Reform System

County health officials are seeking ways to inform residents about enrollment and participation in California's Bridge to Reform health coverage program, HealthyCal reports (Moran, HealthyCal, 9/5).

Background

The Bridge to Reform Medi-Cal waiver is a joint federal-state effort that aims to help California prepare for wider implementation of the federal health reform law in 2014. Medi-Cal is California's Medicaid program.

The program provides matching federal funds to counties for health care spending for low-income, uninsured adults (California Healthline, 7/21).

Under the program, uninsured residents can be enrolled in a Low-Income Health Program.

Issues Counties Face To Enroll Residents

Alan McKay, executive director of the Central California Alliance for Health, said counties are tasked with enrolling people in the bridge program through their Medically Indigent Adult program eligibility offices.

McKay said counties need to address how potential beneficiaries get into the system and what beneficiaries need to do once they are enrolled in the program.

McKay added that the alliance offers services in several languages to help people navigate the program.

Tammy Moss Chandler -- director of public health for Merced County -- said the details and language of the enrollment processes can be daunting. In Merced County, Moss Chandler said individuals can go online for information and can obtain a handbook written at a basic literacy level.

Maggie Mejia -- legislative chair of the Latino Community Roundtable -- said that officials need to be aware of the potential for fraud in Bridge to Reform as well as nationally under the health reform law. She noted that some insurance scams could target individuals who are not familiar with a certain language (HealthyCal, 9/5).