Modernizing Enrollment in California's Health Programs for Pregnant Women and Children: A Blueprint for the Future
Eclipse Solutions, Inc.
September 2007
As California's population has grown in size and diversity, so too have its programs that serve low-income children and pregnant women. The programs have become more numerous, more complex, and more isolated from other programs designed to serve similar populations. Consequently, cumbersome and disconnected enrollment processes often serve as barriers to the enrollment of eligible applicants.
To provide policymakers with a comprehensive blueprint for modernizing enrollment and retention in public programs, the Blue Shield of California Foundation, California HealthCare Foundation, The California Endowment, and The David and Lucile Packard Foundation jointly commissioned a report. Eclipse Solutions, Inc. was selected to conduct an independent assessment of requirements and associated information technology systems in California's health and social services programs for children and pregnant women.
The 2007 assessment identified several overarching problems with the existing enrollment systems and processes including the lack of a unified agency-wide approach, minimal data sharing between programs, outdated technology, reliance on manual processes, and processes that are not consumer-friendly.
Eclipse Solutions developed both interim and "future state" recommendations that, taken together, offer a roadmap for achieving a more streamlined, integrated, and efficient approach to enrollment and retention. The key features of this recommended future state include:
- Strong leadership and sustained funding of the new streamlined system;
- All-inclusive governance structure, ensuring participation of all interested parties; and
- A comprehensive technology solution whereby state information and enrollment services are streamlined to better serve the consumer.
These findings and recommendations are presented in an executive report and report appendix, both available under Document Downloads below.