Computer Ills Cause Medi-Cal to Suffer

As a Medi-Cal eligibility worker in the El Monte district, I totally agree with “County’s Computer System Is Botching Medical Benefits” (Feb. 17), regarding the problems facing workers and participants due to the inability of the new computer system to fulfill its expectations as being simpler, faster and more accurate. But I was very much disappointed with the statement you quoted from officials with the county Department of Public Social Services who “blame the majority of continued errors on county workers.”

Even though I cannot speak for all of the workers in so many county districts, I can tell you that Medi-Cal workers at El Monte--in the approved section/Spanish-language cases only--have under their responsibility an average of 700 cases each, a volume of work that makes it humanly and practically impossible for us workers to do either good, accurate or expeditious work. And if on top of that you add a computer system that is not working as it is supposed to, the results have to be catastrophic sooner or later.

Gina Perez

San Gabriel