Ten California counties have expanded health insurance coverage to more than 250,000 residents who previously were uninsured as part of efforts to implement provisions of the federal health reform law ahead of schedule, the Los Angeles Times reports.
The reform law requires that the state extend Medi-Cal coverage to millions of additional residents by 2014. Medi-Cal is California's Medicaid program.
Bridge to Reform
There are 47 counties participating in the Bridge to Reform program, which provides low-income residents with health coverage that they can use for no-cost treatments at local hospitals and public clinics.
Participating counties can access up to $2.3 billion in federal funds for the program.
Data on all participating counties are expected to be available in March.
Jane Ogle -- deputy director of health care delivery systems for the state Department of Health Care Services -- said, "The 10 counties have done a fabulous job reaching out to people who otherwise would not have access to health care coverage" (Gorman, Los Angeles Times, 2/18).