Counties Urged To Lead On Safety Net

Although California will greatly expand Medi-Cal and commercial coverage as a result of the Affordable Care Act, the state's safety net will remain fragmented in many ways, according to a new study by the advocacy group Health Access.

The Sacramento-based organization projected that 3.4 million Californians will remained uninsured at the end of the decade, and their access to care is likely to remain fragmented.

As a result, Health Access recommended that the state's counties continue enrolling as many residents as possible in their Low Income Health Insurance Programs before their transition into the Medi-Cal program on Jan. 1, lift any income caps up to 133% of the federal poverty level and suspend income redeterminations prior to the transition into Medi-Cal. And programs for the medically indigent should remain in place at least through 2014. Counties should also be aggressive in setting up patient-centered medical homes for those residents who cannot be uninsured.

“California is stronger when everyone has access to care and coverage,” said Anthony Wright, Health Access' executive director and a member of the Payers & Providers editorial board. “It’s cheaper to have access to primary, preventive care than to treat illnesses after they develop. By ensuring that Californians have that access, counties can make sure that their residents are healthy and contributing economically to their communities.”