Medi-Cal Application Backlog Grows to 900K, System Glitches Remain

About 900,000 residents who applied for Medi-Cal coverage still are awaiting approval because of software glitches in a system designed to confirm their eligibility, according to state and local officials, the Los Angeles Times' "L.A. Now" reports.

Medi-Cal is California's Medicaid program.

According to "L.A. Now," the statewide backlog increased by nearly 100,000 during April (Brown, "L.A. Now," Los Angeles Times, 5/1).

State officials say the backlog of Medi-Cal applications was caused by problems with a system that is supposed to link county and state computers to confirm applicants' eligibility for the program (California Healthline, 4/7).

About 50% of the pending applications fall within the 45-day grace period to process applications, according Norman Williams, a spokesperson for the California Department of Health Care Services.

Williams said the state is continuing to make improvements to the computer system, including adding a feature to make verification of residency more efficient. He said, "The adjustments we need to make to the system are urgent," adding, "We're devoting a lot of energy to resolving the problems."

However, Williams said the state is not yet satisfied with its progress addressing the issue ("L.A. Now," Los Angeles Times, 5/1).