Ventura County Part of CMS Project To Cover Uninsured
Ventura County is one of 10 California counties to participate in a CMS demonstration project that provides comprehensive health care coverage to uninsured adults, the Ventura County Star reports.
The Access Coverage Enrollment program, which began six months ago, provides coverage for preventive and specialty care, as well as prescription medications. Eligibility is limited to uninsured adults ages 19 to 64 who meet certain income requirements and are not eligible for other government subsidized programs.
Participants also must pay an annual fee of up to $100, depending on income, and copayments for some services, including urgent care.
CMS launched the project to determine how to improve care and reduce health care costs for the uninsured through preventive care and chronic disease management, the Star reports.
The program has enrolled 2,852 applicants in Ventura County through Jan. 27. County officials hope to enroll up to 12,500 people over the course of the program.
The Department of Health Care Services is providing $30 million to participating counties over three years to operate the program. Services began Sept. 1, 2007.
The Ventura County Board of Supervisors will meet on Tuesday to finalize the county's contract with the state (Klampe, Ventura County Star, 2/5).