Medi-Cal Caseload Increasing As Cost Per Person Declines
Medi-Cal caseload grew
rapidly during the early 1990s as a result of eligibility expansions
and recession, then declined as the economy recovered.
Recent caseload growth results from actions to expand eligibility
and increase outreach efforts.
The annual cost increase per person for Medi-Cal benefits
has averaged 4.5 percent since 1997-98 due to provider rate
increases, eligibility expansions, increased spending on drugs, and
other factors. The turnaround in the trend seen in 2001-02 and
2002-03 appears to be the result of an expansion of the caseload
to families and children less likely on average to need medical care.
Most Medi-Cal Families/Children Are Not on Welfare
By 2000-01, for the first time
in the history of the Medi-Cal Program, welfare
(CalWORKs) recipients accounted for less than half of the families
(including pregnant women) and children enrolled in the program. This
trend has continued and Medi-Cal enrollment of nonwelfare
families and children now exceeds those on welfare by more than
1.2 million.
The reduction in the welfare component of the
Medi-Cal caseload is generally attributable to welfare reform and a strong
job market. The growth in the nonwelfare component is due
to recent legislative changes that have expanded and simplified
Medi-Cal eligibility for low-income working families.
Medi-Cal Caseload is Primarily Families/Children. . .
2002-03
. . .While Most Medi-Cal Spending Is for Elderly/Disabled
