The state released the list of counties that will comprise the first phase of the transition of about 800,000 Healthy Families Program children to Medi-Cal in 2013.

The exact date of the transition is pending federal approval, but the 2012-13 Budget Act authorized the state to begin transitioning children as soon as January 1, 2013. The legislation outlined four phases, and the state has divided the first phase into A and B components.