Governor Schwarzenegger will decide the fate of a bill that would boost the Medi-Cal reimbursement rate for family planning services. Supporters complain family planning clinics haven't received a significant rate hike in 20 years. KPBS reporter Kenny Goldberg has the story.
The pending bill would boost the rate Medi-Cal pays for family planning services by about 50 percent. Supporters say it's needed, because California clinics have to turn away nearly 10,000 women a month.
Vince Hall is with the San Diego chapter of Planned Parenthood . He admits Planned Parenthood clinics don't reject anyone for their inability to pay.
Hall : But we do have capacity problems, and so there are many women who contact Planned Parenthood seeking to set an appointment to receive services, and they're told that the nearest appointment time is three weeks away, sometimes four weeks away.
Hall says a Medi-Cal rate hike would enable clinics to hire more staff and expand their hours of operation. He says that would improve access to care.
Kenny Goldberg, KPBS News.
