Even before the funding formulas from Sacramento are finalized, Santa Barbara is looking at a $2.7 to $7.3 million gap. The range results from dual funding formulas that are being considered, either a “set percentage” or a “savings share.”
Under a set percentage arrangement, the County would have to cover 30 percent of the cost of the Affordable Care Act. The savings share scenario could mean the County would have to pay less as a result of enrollments, cost caps, and other savings. It would require a two- or three-year audit to determine actual costs.
In either scenario, the County needs to hire nearly 80 employees to help handle the increased number of enrollees and their associated casework. The County anticipates 30,000 to 40,000 residents to enroll in various healthcare plans, either through Covered California or through the Medi-Cal expansion.
Read the full article at the Santa Maria Times.