OC health care concerns rise as fewer enroll in CalOptima – NBC Los Angeles

Nearly 27,000 CalOptima patients opted out of the healthcare program in the last two months, and providers are concerned about maintaining services.

Orange County health leaders said the area’s health care plan for low-income patients has fewer participants in part because of new eligibility requirements.

Some patients cite immigration enforcement activity as the reason for disenrolling.

The decline in enrollees will likely make it difficult for clinics to keep up operations.

Cassandra Rossel, communications director at Families Together of Orange County Community Health Center in Tustin, said the facility’s staff is already stretched thin.

She said each of the center’s providers sees about 20 patients a day.

The center relies on Medicaid reimbursements and receives little funding from the federal government, Rossel said. 

“We want to make sure our patients have continuity of care, but that will cost us,” Rossel said. “We will have to look at the extra wrap-around services we provide.”

The center offers transportation and a food pantry, but it might not be able to provide those anymore. 

Orange County Supervisor Vicente Sarmiento said a resource and health fair held last weekend drew just a sixth of the number who showed up to the same event two years ago.

Sarmiento, who is also on CalOptima’s board, cited immigration fears as why residents are using community services less.

In July, it was reported that the Trump administration gave ICE agents access to the personal data of 79 million people enrolled in Medicaid.

Lost coverage can lead to delayed care and more emergency room visits, which will cost taxpayers more.

New California state rules include a $130,000 asset limit for Medi-Cal enrollees and a freeze in enrollment for undocumented adults who are 19 and older.

Patients already enrolled in the program will have to pay $30 a month to keep full coverage after July.