California’s massive Medicaid program works for some, but fails many others

by AngelA HArt And BernArd J. Wolfson Kaiser Health News

NEWBORNS. Former inmates. College students. Expectant moms. People with disabilities. Foster kids. Homeless people. Single dads. Your neighbor. Your coworker.

You.

California’s Medicaid program, called Medi-Cal, serves a whopping 15.4 million people, offering care from cradle to grave: Half of all births are covered by Medi-Cal, as are more than half of all stays in nursing homes.

No more jackets, pockets for NAIA...

Department, it added.

Earlier tourist.

“Even though these people manning the screening areas are employees of the OTS and not of the MIAA, they still operate in NAIA which we administer. It happened under our roof, so it is critical that we resolve these issues so as not to cause alarm among passengers and affect their confidence to travel to the Philippines,” Chiong said.

The MIAA also ordered the installation of an additional camera on top of the screening machine at the transit area of

Terminal 2 and the removal of the film or tints covering the glass panels, which obscure transparency, following the Feb. 22 incident.

“We are trying to remove all possible forms of obstruction. This is one of our major deterrents to illegal acts such as pilferage or theft. These facility changes will not be limited to Terminal 2,” Chiong said, as he revealed that they are also aiming to improve the vetting and background checks on OTS personnel. n

Everything about Medi-Cal is massive, from its upcoming fiscal year budget of $139 billion to the expansive list of benefits and services it offers. The way the program works — or doesn’t — could spell life or death for many enrollees.

“It’s critical, from the single pregnant mom, to the extremely frail elderly population that needs a nursing home,” said Jennifer Kent, former director of the state Department of Health Care Services, which administers Medi-Cal. “If it weren’t for Medi-Cal, so many people would either be dead or would be severely compromised.”

In a new series, California Healthline will shed light on Medi-Cal’s successes and failures through the experiences of its enrollees. They include

Stephanie Lammers, who can’t get her troubling abdominal symptoms checked at a clinic 50 miles from her small Calaveras County town because the transportation Medi-Cal is supposed to provide isn’t trustworthy; Carolina Morga Tapia, a Fresno woman who credits Medi-Cal with helping her have five healthy children; and Lucas Moreno Ramirez, a Los Angeles County man with stage 4 lung cancer who had to fight to keep his treatment going.

Medi-Cal is at a critical juncture as it attempts to serve the needs of a diverse patient population with a dizzying array of medical needs — from childhood vaccinations and cancer screenings to state-of-the-art care for rare genetic disorders. Roughly half of enrollees are Hispanic, and, next year, California will become the first state to expand eligibility to all immigrants who qualify, regardless of their legal status.

Medi-Cal is also undertaking several new initiatives that aim to save taxpayer money and improve quality. State officials are demanding that the 23 health insurers that serve most Medi-Cal patients provide better care — or face significant penalties, including potential expulsion from the program.

The state is also adding innovative social services that fall outside the traditional realm of medicine, including helping some enrollees pay for rent and buy groceries.

“People are watching

California,” said Cindy Mann, who served as federal Medicaid director under former President Barack Obama. “What the state is doing is ambitious and very aggressive. It makes a significant mark on health care and health policy, not just because of the size and breadth of its program, but by being very comprehensive.”

But only a sliver of enrollees will get the new social services, even as many patients struggle to obtain basic care or get in to see their doctors. In reality, the type of care you get in Medi-Cal depends on where you live and which insurer provides your benefits.

That means the program is working for some, but failing for many others.

If you are in Medi-Cal, we would like to hear from you, whether you live in a big city or a rural region, regardless of your age, race, or ethnicity, and whatever your medical, dental, or mental health condition. Have you had difficulty seeing the right doctor for what ails you, even to the point of putting your life at risk? Or did MediCal provide good care, perhaps sparing you serious harm or disability? Either way, please consider sharing your experience with us.

Here are snapshots of patients who have used the program at a critical time in their life.

‘I Just Don’t Go to the Doctor Anymore’

When Stephanie Lammers leans over to put on her shoes, it feels as if she’s squishing u PAGE A5

US-China tensions bring on...

of a WWII veteran.

‘Sheer Buffoonery’

“This is absolutely alarming, but not unsurprising, given the parties involved,” John C. Yang, president and executive director of Asian Americans Advancing Justice-AAJC, told Ethnic Media Services. “Gooden has questioned Chu’s patriotism, which is repulsive, reprehensible, and unforgivable.”

“Congresswoman Chu is a true patriot. Any accusations of being a Communist are sheer buffoonery,” said Yang.

“To suggest that Dominic Ng is somehow a spy is laughable and flies in the face of common decency,” he added.

Yang noted that any time China comes into the national conversation as an adversary, there is a palpable spike in racist attacks. “We do have geo-political differences with China, but also a hot war with Russia, yet no one is profiling Russian Americans.”

The White House should issue a statement about how Chinese Americans have contributed to the nation’s well-being, suggested Yang.

‘Ramping Up Xenophobia’

Manjuusha Kulkarni, Executive Director of the AAPI Equity Alliance and co-founder of Stop AAPI Hate, told EMS she was very discouraged by the attacks on Chu and Ng. “Upstanding citizens who are leaders in our community are under attack only because of their ethnicity,” she said, adding that she would not be surprised to see a spike in hate crimes against the AAPI community. “We are ramping up xenophobia once again,” she said.

“Chinese Americans are not responsible for the spy balloons and there is no evidence that they are engaging in dangerous activity. A lot of Chinese immigrants are against the CCP, and may be why they migrated: to seek a new life and a different form of government.”

Kulkarni said she is alarmed by the number of bills in state Legislatures across the nation which seem to be fueled by xenophobia. Of particular concern to her is Texas’ SB 147, which, in its original form would have barred Chinese citizens from buying homes in the state. The bill has been modified, after a volley of concerns about racism.

Chu’s Loyalty and Competence in Question

In an interview with Fox News’ Jesse Waters Feb. 22, Gooden stated that Ng had ties to the Chinese Communist Party. He went on to say that Chu should be investigated, along with Ng.

“I question her loyalty and competence,” said Gooden. “If she doesn’t realize what’s going on then she’s totally out of touch with one of her core constituencies.”

Gooden went on to say: “I’m really disappointed and shocked that someone like Judy Chu would have a security clearance and entitled to confidential intelligence briefings until this is figured out.” He called for the congresswoman to be relieved of her committee assignments.

‘Loyalty Should Not Be Questioned’

Democrats, and Republican Mike Gallagher, R-Wisconsin — who co-chairs the new House Select Committee on China along with Democrat Raja Krishnamoorthi of Illinois — immediately denounced the statements by Gooden, saying they were racist. Gallagher and Krishnamoorthi appeared on Face The Nation with Margaret Brennan Feb. 26 and condemned the attack on Chu.

“One of my colleagues, unfortunately, attacked Judy Chu, the first Chinese American Congresswoman in the United States Congress, saying that somehow she’s not loyal to the United States. I find that offensive as an Asian American myself,” said Krishnamoorthi. Gallagher agreed. “Well, let me say we should not question anybody’s loyalty to the United States. I think that is out of bounds. It’s beyond the pale,” he said.

FBI Letter

On Feb. 15, Gooden and five Republican members of Congress sent a letter to FBI director Christopher Wray, alleging Ng’s ties to the CCP and calling for an investigation. The letter stated that between 2013 and 2017, Ng served as the executive director of the China Overseas Exchange Association which is a front organization for the United Front Work Department, a Chinese intelligence service whose mission is to liaison with foreign political parties, influence operations, and collect intelligence.

COEA subsequently merged with the China Overseas Friendship Association, which “remained a front group for UFWD when Mr. Ng began a 5-year terRm as COFA’s executive director in 2019,” stated the members of Congress in the letter.

“Organizations like the UFWD and its affiliated groups play an increasingly important role in Chinese foreign policy and allow political actors like Mr. Ng to gain influence in sensitive American institutions to advocate for the interests of communist China. This tactic is regularly employed by the CCP to infiltrate governments and influence policies for CCP-oriented outcomes,” they wrote. “The Biden Administration has allowed the CCP to infiltrate the thirdparty sector and, consequently, political leaders that have existing relationships to these groups and are privy to U.S. intelligence. Further encroachments cannot be tolerated.”

The letter was signed by Gooden, and Reps. Tom Tiffany, R-Minnesota, R-Florida, Ben Cline, R-Virginia, Doug La Malfa, R-California, and Keith Self, R-Pennsylvania. (Sunita Sohrabji/Ethnic Media Services)