Vendor plan for Medi-Cal criticized (CA, privatizing w/dubious firm)

[Rose Siding]

Calling it a first step toward creating a one-stop center where needy Californians can apply for all state services, the Schwarzenegger administration is pushing a budget proposal that would give a controversial private firm some Medi-Cal work now handled by county employees.
...
Some critics - counties and advocates for the poor - say Medi-Cal, with 165 ways to qualify, is just too complicated to give to a private vendor that does not have the same computer programs that county offices use.
And they point to Maximus' bumpy start last year at the beginning of its Healthy Families contract, when many children were mistakenly dropped from the program and users complained about poor customer service.

Maximus has had its share of other problems. New Jersey recently fired the company from running a state program similar to Healthy Families after many complaints that Maximus took too long to process applications and lost paperwork.

In December, the company disclosed that the U.S. attorney's office in the District of Columbia was conducting a fraud investigation into its work with the city's Medicaid program.......

http://www.sacbee.com/content/politics/story/12186774p-13055628c.html

[BayCityProgressive]

1. wow

sounds like it's a great idea from it's previous results.

[jamesinca]

2. I am sure it cost less, and is run by a repug

So it must be a good investment. If it cost more that is ok, because your tax dollars will be going to a republican anyway. I wonder if Arnold shops for clothes the same way he shops for public services, by looking at the price tag only? I think not, so it is sad that he would care more about the way that he dresses then the way he treats other people.

[Rose Siding]

3. Govt medical programs run more cheaply than private ones

Wish I remembered where I saw those stats, but "administrative", and "overhead" costs are far greater in the medical industry overall than in the govt managed portions.

[jamesinca]

4. I know govt. programs are cheaper

I did not get that across to well in my post. But I am sure Arnold will try to sell it on being cost effective and helping to fix our "budget crisis" that is being brought on by special interest groups or some other BS.