Legislature Signs Off on Measures To Extend State’s Medi-Cal Waiver
Last week, California's Legislature approved two bills that would expand indigent health care services by extending the state's federal Medi-Cal waiver for five years, Capitol Public Radio's "KXJZ News" reports. Medi-Cal is California's Medicaid program.
The bills -- AB 342 by Assembly speaker John Pérez (D-Los Angeles) and SB 208 by Senate President Pro Tempore Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento) -- would shift elderly residents, children with disabilities and certain other indigent residents to managed care programs instead of fee-for-service models. The plan aims to draw down $10 billion in federal funding.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) and federal officials still must approve California's waiver proposal (Sepulvado, "KXJZ News," Capitol Public Radio, 10/8).
For additional coverage of California's Medicaid waiver, see last week's Capitol Desk post.
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