Suit: S.D. County Excludes Some Poor to Receive Affordable Care

By Amita Sharma / Investigative Reporter, KPBS Public Broadcasting

Published July 27, 2007 at 3:30 PM PDT

This story was published more than 16 years ago.

San Diego County is mandated by state law to provide medical care for the county's poorest. A class-action lawsuit said the county excludes many poor patients who exceed the income cap. The state appe

San Diego County is mandated by state law to provide medical care for the County's poorest. A class-action lawsuit said the county excludes many poor patients who exceed the income cap. The state appeals court said the county program violates state law, and the county should take into account people who make more than the caps -- at that time $1,078/mo for a single person.

The county revised its caps upward, but will now impose co-pays of $20 to $50, and it has petitioned the state Supreme court to review the case. The county medical services budget is $67 million to take care of 18,000 people a year, or $3,722 per person annually.

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Amita Sharma , KPBS Full Focus reporter.