In a recent interview, California Department of Health Care Services Director Toby Douglas discussed the challenges the department faces as it works to expand Medi-Cal coverage under the federal health law reform amid significant state budget cuts. Medi-Cal is California's Medicaid program. Last month, CMS approved the state's plan to reduce certain Medi-Cal payments by 10%. Douglas said that the "payment reductions are going to have impacts on our providers and our beneficiaries," but he noted that "we did it in a way that ensured there would continue to be access." Douglas added that under the $10 billion Medi-Cal waiver that aims to expand access to public health programs, "populations are going to be able to receive more coordinated care, access primary care providers and receive care management." The Pasadena Star-News story was produced by the California HealthCare Foundation's Center for Health Reporting. CHCF is the publisher of California Healthline.