For undocumented immigrants like Ericka Rosas Aranda, California's May 1 expansion of Medicaid can prove life-saving.
Two architects of the effort weigh in on the promise and perils of California's bold new Medicaid program.
The state is on the cusp of becoming the first to offer all residents health care coverage, regardless of their immigration status.
“We have not only a real public health threat but this novel coronavirus is really affecting the economy, and this is going to have implications for state revenues,” one analyst said.
How two reporters used data to explore how California's ambitious health care initiatives could shape the lives of working residents already strained by the state's high cost of living.
Over 100,000 undocumented immigrants in Calif.'s San Bernardino County alone are eligible for Medicaid benefits. But does that mean they'll be able to find quality care in the county's safety net?
For reporters on the health beat, Medicaid is a vital source of watchdog stories. Check out these six great tips from veteran journalists on how to investigate Medicaid stories at local and regional outlets.
A 5-year-old's long wait for care is emblematic of a much larger problem — too few mental health providers for low-income kids on public coverage.
“Access varies quite dramatically depending on where you are,” said Kim Lewis of the National Health Law Program. “There isn’t a lot being done to ensure accountability in each county.”
Californians remain without a scorecard to track the performance of Medicaid provider groups, and state officials don't seem eager to change that.
