Date and Time
February 2, 2011
1:30 PM - 3:00 PM

Availability
Open to the public
No RSVP required

Please note: All research in progress seminars are off-the-record. Any information about methodology and/or results are embargoed until publication

The focus of the presentation will be to discuss the analysis of the largest dataset of children with chronic illness in the United States. The California Children’s Services (CCS) program is a joint State/county program providing medical case management and authorization of services for children with special health care needs who meet program medical, residential and financial eligibility requirements. These services are provided to children enrolled in Medi-Cal and Healthy Families and to children who are uninsured or who have private insurance (CCS-only clients). Many infants, children, and adolescents served by CCS have multiple medical conditions. They require intensive levels of case management and coordination of care that exceed the resources available in county programs or the state program regional offices.  The continuous innovations in the care of complex medical conditions has made it increasingly difficult to determine which medical services do or do not treat a child’s CCS eligible medical condition. Over several decades, the CCS program has become increasingly difficult for participating providers, families with chronically ill children, and counties to navigate. California’s section 1115 waiver for hospital financing and uninsured care expired on August 31, 2010.  The new waiver presents the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) with an opportunity to create innovative models and pilot programs to test new approaches to caring for these children. As the Department begins work with stakeholders to explore options for a system of care that improves the quality and coordination of care, accountability, and lives of eligible children and their families there is a need for specific data to make informed decisions and to facilitate future evaluations of CCS innovations. The purpose of this project is to provide DHCS and stakeholders of the CCS program with analytic insight to inform developing pilot programs to improve care for children receiving care through CCS. We will present some of our preliminary analyses.