California Prepares for the Affordable Care Act With New Test Program

Among those poised to benefit most from the Patient Protection Affordable Care Act are nearly half a million low-income seniors and disabled patients in California who will begin moving from a current fragmented system in which they receive both Medi-Cal and Medicare, to a test managed care program called Cal MediConnect.

One major and potentially positive change beneficiaries will experience under the new system is care coordination led by health plans that will be paid to manage all of a patient's records, rather than doctors who are paid on the number of services provided.

"We believe it will transform the state's healthcare system," Health and Human Services Secretary Diana Dooley told The Los Angeles Times.

The plan is not without its potential pitfalls, however. 

Kevin Prindiville is the deputy director of the National Senior Citizens Law Center and someone who worries that what may sound good in theory, may actually be a setback for many of those involved.

"We are concerned about how this is going to translate in the real world for beneficiaries," he said. "There is a lot of change happening very quickly."

Deborah Doctor, legislative advocate for Disability Rights California, told the Los Angeles Times that she is not confident that either the state or the health plans will be ready in time. Furthermore, she sees little financial reason to push the process forward at its current rate.

"Why are we going ahead at this pace in California if the money savings are going to be so small?" she said. In all, savings to Medi-Cal in the first year are estimated at 1 percent.

The state will begin notifying beneficiaries this summer with enrollment starting in October. Those who are enrolled will be able to receive to medical and mental health services as well as dental and vision care and non-emergency transportation.