CalOptima
Better. Together.

August 12, 2014
SENT VIA ELECTRONIC MAIL

Mr. Toby Douglas
Director
California Department of Health Care Services
P.O. Box 997413, MS 0000
Sacramento, CA 95899-7413

Re:	Department of Health Care Services Section 1115 Waiver Concept Paper and Stakeholder Process

Dear Mr. Douglas:

The Orange County Health Authority, dba, CalOptima, support the goals of the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) as detailed in the Section 1115 Waiver Concept Paper distributed by DHCS on July 18, 2014.

CalOptima applauds the efforts of DHCS to replace the current Section 1115 Waiver in a comprehensive manner that includes the participation and collaboration of stakeholders.  We especially commend DHCS for undertaking to reform Medi-Cal to improve care delivery and payment systems while preserving essential health care services as the Medi-Cal program continues to expand.  As the 4th largest Medi-Cal managed care plan in the state and the County Organized Health System (COHS) plan with the largest enrollment, we offer our experience in successfully caring for and transitioning vulnerable populations, while ensuring quality of care and cost containment to inform your discussions and decisions.  To that end, I appreciate your consideration of myself and my staff as members of the stakeholder committee and any proposed technical workgroups.  I believe that CalOptima can provide valuable insight, in particular, to the following stakeholder groups:

Payment/Delivery Reform Incentive Payment Programs;
Safety Net Payment Reforms;
FQHC Payment/Delivery Reform;
Children with special health care needs/California Children’s Services (CCS) Program improvements;
Shelter for Vulnerable Populations; and
Workforce Development.

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CalOptima has been a strong supporter of the Administration’s managed care expansion activities, long-term care integration efforts, and development of performance-based standards for Medi-Cal managed care plans.  We look forward to working with DHCS to develop a final Waiver that supports quality programs and services to the Medi-Cal beneficiaries of Orange County.  If you have any questions or require additional information, please contact me at (714) 246-8570, or mschrader@caloptima.org.

Sincerely,
/S/ Michael Schrader
Michael Schrader
Chief Executive Officer

cc:	Mari Cantwell, Department of Health Care Services