Medi-Cal Paid $4 Billion For People Who Were Possibly Ineligible, Audit Finds
County workers are supposed to determine if someone is eligible for health coverage under California's Medicaid program, and then send that information to the state. But the records don’t always match up.
Los Angeles Times:
California Spent $4 Billion On Medi-Cal For People Who May Not Have Been Eligible, Audit Finds
California spent $4 billion on Medi-Cal coverage between 2014 and 2017 for people who may not have been eligible for the government-funded health plan, according to a state audit released Tuesday. Medi-Cal provides health coverage to 13.1 million Californians, approximately one-third of the state’s population. To qualify, a single adult must make less than $16,754 annually. County workers typically determine whether someone is eligible for health coverage under Medi-Cal, then send that information to the state. But the records don’t always match up. (Karlamangla, 10/30)
The Associated Press:
Audit Finds California Paid $4B In Questionable Medi-Cal Claims
From 2014 through 2017, more than 450,000 people marked as eligible for Medi-Cal in the state's system were listed as ineligible in county systems, the California auditor's office said. Half of those discrepancies persisted for more than two years. "Some eligible individuals may have encountered unnecessary hardship and been inappropriately denied services," said a summary that accompanied the report. (10/30)