Implementation of New Replacement "Community-Based Adult Services" Program As A Medi-Cal Managed Care Benefit To Take Effect March 1, 2012 Underway
SACRAMENTO, CA (CDCAN) [Last updated 01/24/2012 03:00 PM] - A
US district court judge gave final approval of a settlement of a federal lawsuit that requires the Brown Administration to create a new version of adult day health care, called "Community-Based Adult Services" under Medi-Cal managed health care that will replace the existing Adult Day Health Care Medi-Cal benefit effective March 1, 2012. The existing Adult Day Health Care Medi-Cal benefit will be eliminated effective February 29, 2012.
The settlement was reached and originally announced on November 17, 2011 with those filing the lawsuit (seven persons with disabilities and seniors representing over 35,000 people with disabilities and seniors currently receiving the Medi-Cal benefit provided by over 300 Adult Day Health Care Centers across the State) and the Department of Health Care Services, the state agency that oversees the Medicaid (called "Medi-Cal") program. US District Court Judge Saundra Brown gave preliminary approval of the settlement on December 14th and final approval today and said the settlement was "fair, adequate and reasonable" and a "win-win" for both sides
Both the Department of Health Care Services and advocates for people with disabilities and seniors praised the settlement, though some advocates and stakeholders remain concerned and worried because the new replacement program will only cover an estimated 15,000 of the 35,000 persons currently receiving services under the Adult Day Health Care Medi-Cal and uncertainity still exists on what other services those persons will end up receiving. Steps have been taken over the past two months to implement the settlement including the new replacement program and other transition efforts, including In-Home Supportive Services, once the Adult Day Health Care Medi-Cal benefit is eliminated...more
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