UNINSURED: San Diego County Supervisors to Vote On Coverage Plan
The San Diego County Board of Supervisors likely will approve tomorrow a two-stage plan that would help about one-third of the 600,000 uninsured county residents obtain health coverage, the San Diego Union Tribune reports. The first stage of the plan aims to increase enrollment in Medi-Cal and Healthy Families and expand the program to poor adults. In the plan's second stage, county officials would negotiate for federal and state funding and regulatory waivers necessary for the implementation of five other steps, including: changing eligibility levels for public programs, subsidizing private insurance for low-income workers; and helping small employers provide insurance through tax incentives and a purchasing pool. County officials estimate that the plan will require $15 million in county funds annually -- $10 million of which will come from the tobacco settlement -- and another $142 million in state and federal backing. But discord remains over the plan's administration. Consultants at Pacific Health Policy Group of Claremont recommended the development of a cooperative. Several members of a committee sheparding the plan said they like the idea of "one-stopping shopping" for health coverage, but they are hesitant to create a bureaucracy that "might disrupt or supersede their established ways." A final decision on the plan may not be reached for some time, but the first stage of reforms could arise within three months (Duerksen, 12/12).
This is part of the California Healthline Daily Edition, a summary of health policy coverage from major news organizations. Sign up for an email subscription.