Following its June 2016 launch, HASC’s Medi-Cal Managed Care Task Force completed a survey of statewide issues impacting the Medi-Cal payment model. At its Tuesday, Jan. 31 meeting, the HASC Board of Directors will summarize the group’s findings along with a plan to extend its work through the current year in light of the new administration in Washington, D.C. and anticipated changes in health care policy by Congress.

The task force is planning to convene in March, however, meeting dates have not yet been set. For more information, contact Marty Gallegos, HASC Senior Vice President for Health Policy and Communications, at the below phone number or email address.

Multiple stakeholders participated in last year’s task force meetings, including at least 11 hospital representatives, five Medi-Cal managed care plan executives, a number of community care representatives and CHA staff.

The work and recommendations of the task force is significant because Medi-Cal now covers more than one in three Southern California residents. Nearly 80 percent of Medi-Cal beneficiaries are in managed care plans, most of which are local public health plans. From 2013 to 2015, Medi-Cal volume grew 92 percent for hospitals in the HASC region while commercial volume dropped 20 percent.

Anticipated changes from Congress and the Trump Administration will likely have an impact on HASC health care policy formation. If a replacement for Medi-Cal relies on block grants, or applies deductibles, copays and premiums as well as other cost-saving measures, then much of the work of the task force may not apply under the new paradigm. If that is the case, the recommendations of the group will have to be revamped to reflect the new environment.

Task force recommendations from 2016 will be outlined in the Jan. 31 Chair’s Report and will include strategies related to local plans and organizations, data sharing and expanded use of technology, population health management, social determinants of health and care coordination, workforce development and behavioral health.

This month, the task force identified the following priorities and accomplishments:

• The task force has distributed the task force recommendations to HASC members and other stakeholders.
• Discussions were held regarding the formation of local coalitions.
• The task force will reconvene in March 2017 to prepare for the potential local impact of changes to health care reform and Medi-Cal financing.

Contact:
Marty Gallegos
(213) 538-0777
mgallegos@hasc.org