Mercury News editorial: California must raise Medi-Cal reimbursement rates

San Jose Mercury News ^ | May 13, 2015 | Editorial Board

[Oldeconomybuyer]

California is serving as the national model for President Barack Obama's health care reforms, but that won't continue unless the state does something about its abysmal Medi-Cal reimbursement rates for doctors and hospitals caring for the 12 million Californians with Medi-Cal coverage.

Gov. Jerry Brown has a golden opportunity to fix the problem Thursday when he unveils his May revised budget plan. But don't hold your breath.

It's becoming increasingly clear that the influx of 2.7 million Californians to the Medi-Cal roles is putting a strain on the state's medical system. The low reimbursement rates provide a disincentive for physicians to accept new patients.

Frustrated health care advocates are poised to put a tax initiative on the ballot -- possibly through an increase in the tobacco tax -- to generate sufficient funds to raise provider rates.

Increasing Medi-Cal reimbursement rates attract more doctors to the program, improve the overall health of Californians and help secure the success of health care reforms.

[SierraWasp]

Has anyone beside me been hearing the radio ads by www.fundmedical.org pleading for us citizens to pressure our legislators to boost funding as this stupid editorial is touting as something taxpayers should be in favor of?

At the end, it says the ad is paid for by "the labor-management board" which to me smacks of SEIU's government employee's union who recently organized the massive work force of home healthcare workers via some drastic Demonicrat enabling legislation when they controlled all 3 branches of our state government with Republican resistance impossible due to super majorities!!!

You can hear them during the Rush Limbaugh show on www.KFBK.com in live streaming and live sucking sounds!!!