Blue Cross to Administer Medi-Cal Pilot Program

Blue Cross of California said it has been selected by the state Department of Health Services as one of the health plans that will implement a managed-care pilot project.

Blue Cross, a nonprofit health-care services corporation based in Woodland Hills, said it would assume the financial risk of the project.

The plan calls for an estimated 50,000 to 100,000 Medi-Cal beneficiaries in the Sacramento area to choose managed-care coverage under Blue Cross.

Under the program, Medi-Cal patients will have access to services similar to those available to people enrolled in private health-care plans, including a primary-care physician. State Medi-Cal administrators expect to save money because the plan stresses preventive care and should help reduce costly emergency room services.