The Insure the Uninsured Project (IUP) held meetings in Riverside and San Bernardino counties recently to share information on the 1115 Waiver and the current plans to expand coverage to uninsured Californians who are at or under federal poverty level (FPL) of 200 percent. Both regions will be impacted.

HASC represents the needs and concerns of Inland Area hospitals at these meetings, and works collaboratively with the counties toward implementing 1115 Waiver and other aspects of the Affordable Care Act.

California’s uninsured jumped to 7.1 million in 2009. The Inland Empire is among the areas that report higher than average rates of residents without coverage. In Riverside, 25 percent of residents are uninsured, and in San Bernardino, the number is nearly 30 percent.

The low income health program (LIHP), part of the 1115 Waiver package that will act as a bridge to health care reform, provides coverage for medically indigent adults. While some details for the program are to be determined, goals include building network capacity while enrolling eligible populations; providing high-quality, coordinated care to bend the cost curve; and ultimately easing the transition to 2014 requirements.

To participate, a resident must be:

•      Adult age 19-64
•      Currently uninsured
•      Not eligible for other public programs
•      U.S. citizen or 5-year legal resident
•      Resident in the LIHP region

Riverside and San Bernardino Counties are each looking to enroll 20,000 individuals who fall under 133 percent FPL into Medicaid Coverage Expansion programs. The Inland Empire counties have been delayed by the state, which, along with CMS, will be reviewing new contracts for coverage expansion. Enrollment would begin in the fall.