Medicare

Latest California Healthline Stories

Dual Eligibles Transition Sparks Worries

California health officials want to move one million Californians who qualify for Medi-Cal and Medicare into managed care. Advocates worry the state will not properly prepare seniors for the transition.

CMS, State Officials Halt Participation of CalOptima in Dual-Eligible Plan

Federal officials found “widespread and systemic” violations in an audit of Southern California insurer CalOptima, causing state officials to exclude Orange County residents — at least temporarily — from the Cal MediConnect conversion of dual-eligibles to Medi-Cal managed care.

Study: Dual Eligibles Worried About April Transition to Managed Care

A new study from UCLA says seniors are worried about the state’s duals demonstration project. Beginning in April, the state will move about 450,000 Californians eligible for Medicare and Medi-Cal into Medi-Cal managed care plans.

Floor Vote Coming for ‘De-linking’ Plan

A legislative committee yesterday questioned a proposal to “de-link” some provisions of the Coordinated Care Initiative and to expand the role of the Department of Finance in the state’s plans for covering Californians eligible for Medicare and Medi-Cal.

State ‘De-links’ Mandatory Enrollment from Duals Project

The Department of Health Care Services last week announced a new provision of Cal MediConnect that would establish a means of abandoning the state’s duals demonstration project  if it doesn’t meet a financial benchmark.

The department also wants to “de-link” mandatory enrollment from the demonstration project, according to Jane Ogle, deputy director at DHCS.

“On the program side, we de-linked mandatory enrollment of duals. That way, we’ll have long-term services and supports as Medi-Cal benefits,” she said.