�A union court in Los Angeles has enjoined the 10 percent cut in reimbursement rates to nearly all health concern providers in the doS Medi-Cal/Denti-Cal political program that took effect on July 1, finding that the cuts would irreparably harm access to wellness care for nearly 7 million Californians. The California Medical Association hailed the decision as an significant step for health care in California, and for the health and lives of the millions of Californians world Health Organization benefit from the state's safety internet.
"This is the third base court in five days to find that the state of California has put at risk the access to health care for millions of Californians by underfunding the Medi-Cal program," aforesaid Dr. Richard Frankenstein, MD, President of the California Medical Association. "Hopefully, lawmakers get the message that they cannot balance the budget on the backs of the state's poor or those who allow for their health care. The state refuge net necessarily to be strengthened, non weakened."
"This decision is a critical step towards ensuring sufficient funding for Medi-Cal, just we still have a ways to go," said Frankenstein. "California still ranks among the lowest states in the country on Medi-Cal rates, often reimbursing less than the cost of providing care."
Even prior to the cuts, California graded at the bottom of the country in Medi-Cal funding, and spent less per Medi-Cal beneficiary than any other state. Since the cuts took effect, many Medi-Cal and Denti-Cal providers have been forced to reduce or entirely stop services for Medi-Cal beneficiaries, costing many Californians critical access to health care.
In an emergency budget session in early 2008, the state legislative assembly and governor agreed to a 10 percent cut off to reimbursement rates for Medi-Cal providers to take effect July 1. Health care providers filed at least terzetto different lawsuits in May, alleging that the state had failed to dress Medi-Cal reimbursement rates at a level that ensures access to health care for Californians on Medi-Cal, in misdemeanor of united States Department of State law. The other lawsuits are still pending.
Although a legislative conference citizens committee voted to reduce or eliminate some of the cuts in June, Medi-Cal still faces the 10% reimbursement rate cuts and additional cuts in the proposed FY 2009 budget. Today's action is simply a first-class honours degree step in stopping the continuing refuse of services to Medi-Cal beneficiaries in the state of California. While this is a small triumph for residents of California, we retain to face challenges of providing health care for the about vulnerable in California.
California Medical Association
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