State of California’s Concept for a Comprehensive Section 1115 Waiver to Replace the Current Medi-Cal Hospital/Uninsured Care Demonstration Project

December 9, 2009 The California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) is seeking to renew its Medicaid 1115 waiver to transform the Medi-Cal program to create an accountable, efficient, coordinated system of care. The revision, authorized by Assembly Billx4 6 (ABx4 6) is intended to strengthen the health care safety net, reward health care quality, improve health outcomes, slow the program's long-term cost growth rate, and expand coverage to uninsured state residents. Its current 1115 waiver expires August 31, 2010; the revised waiver will start September 1, 2010. A key concern for the state is integrating Medicaid . . .