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Adults with Disabilities in Medi-Cal: Utilization and Expenditure Trends, 1995-2001

Todd Gilmer, University of California San Diego

The Medi-Cal program provides health coverage to almost one million Californians with disabilities. This report compares their demographics, disease conditions, service usage, and expenditures with two other major groups of Medi-Cal beneficiaries.

June 2003

The Medi-Cal program provides health care services to multitudes of Californians with disabilities. In June 2003, when this report was released, the nearly one million beneficiaries accounted for about 17% of Medi-Cal enrollment and nearly 44% of the program’s expenditures.

This report provides a detailed picture of Medi-Cal beneficiaries with disabilities between 1995 and 2001. It compares their demographics, disease conditions, service usage, and expenditures with two other major groups of Medi-Cal beneficiaries: (1) beneficiaries who are eligible for Medi-Cal coverage due to a link with the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program (called CalWORKs in California); and (2) the aged (beneficiaries aged 65 and older).