For months, SEIU has worked to renew the Medicaid 1115 Waiver — a huge source of federal funding that covers the cost of treating low-income patients and the uninsured.
On November 2, the federal government approved $10 billion for five years to support Medi-Cal program changes that will expand coverage to up to 500,000 uninsured Californians and help the state prepare for the full implementation of health care reform in January 2014.
“Winning $10 billion for California’s health care safety net is just the latest example of why our members’ hard work to help elect Barack Obama is paying off for health care workers, working people and all Californians,” said SEIU 721 Executive Director John Tanner.
“SEIU’s leadership is helping build a bridge to health care for all Californians.”
The funding will help close a deep budget deficit in LA County Department of Health Services and protect and expand services SEIU 721 members provide at public hospitals and publicly funded clinics.
The new funding will aid low-income, uninsured Californians who are now served by safety-net providers. Eligible adults will receive a core set of services, including inpatient and outpatient services, prescription drugs, mental health, and other medically necessary services.
The waiver will directly affect SEIU 721 health care members through a series of improvements to public hospital delivery systems to strengthen their infrastructure, prepare them for full implementation of reform and test strategies to slow the rate of growth in health care costs throughout the state.
What does the waiver do for California health care workers?
California will receive approximately $10 billion in federal funds to invest in our health delivery system, prepare for health care reform in 2014 and control health care costs within the Medi-Cal program.
- $3.3 billion for investments in California’s public hospital safety net
- $2.9 billion for additional coverage for low-income individuals
- $3.9 billion for uncompensated care costs
- Helps close the deep LA County health care budget deficit
Click here to read a fact sheet from the California Department of Health Care Services (pdf)
Congrats for the good work! How about the job outlook for LA County Probation employees?
Please advice.