DHCS CalDuals Webinar on California's Medicare Populations: Linguistic and Cultural Diversity, Plus the Near-Dual Group
On July 17 at 10 a.m., the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) Office of Medicare Innovation and Integration (OMII), will host a webinar titled "California's Medicare Populations: Linguistic and Cultural Diversity, Plus the Near-Dual Group." The webinar will include presentations and a panel discussion on two data chartbooks on the Medicare population in California, available shortly on the DHCS OMII webpage.
These chartbooks highlight the linguistic and cultural diversity of Californians with Medicare, and the demographics for California Medicare beneficiaries near the Medi-Cal income eligibility threshold, known as “Near-Duals.” Both chartbooks are based on 2019 U.S. Census data. Highlights include data analysis that 15 percent of Californians with Medicare had limited English proficiency (three times the national average) and that 32 percent of Californians with Medicare were born outside the U.S. (compared to the national rate of 12 percent.) The data also show that, compared to higher-income Medicare beneficiaries, Near-Duals face financial constraints, have a higher prevalence of disabilities, are predominantly female, aged 75 or older, and are from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds. Understanding the cultural, linguistic, and economic demographics of California’s Medicare population is critical to addressing health disparities and improving the care experience.
Please register for the July 17 webinar, which is open to the public. For questions or comments, please email DHCS at OMII@dhcs.ca.gov.
