Integration of Medicare and Medicaid in California: Provider Perspectives of Cal MediConnect

In 2014, California became one of 13 states to implement a financial and administrative alignment demonstration called the Coordinated Care Initiative (CCI). In California, existing Medicare and Medi-Cal (California’s Medicaid program) managed care health plans in seven counties created new products called “Cal MediConnect” (CMC). Researchers from the University of California conducted an evaluation of the impact of the CMC program on beneficiaries and health systems. Data collected for this research brief built on Phase I results and included 19 additional interviews with provider stakeholders including physician providers, provider groups, CMC plan directors of provider networks, FQHCs, hospitals, management services organizations (MSOs), and LTC providers.