California governor Schwarzenegger has proposed a major expansion of mandatory managed care for Californians with disabilities covered under Medi-Cal (the name for Medicaid in California), a group that accounts for 14 percent of beneficiaries and 40 percent of program spending. If enacted, this change would affect more than 500,000 Californians.

A new California HealthCare Foundation report provides a road map for policymakers and program officials wanting to ensure that health plans are responsive to their members with disabilities. A result of extensive research and stakeholder input, the report offers detailed proposals to strengthen existing standards in managed care, ensure that limited state resources are used efficiently and effectively, and improve quality of care for people with disabilities.