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Governor's Budget Plan Includes Deep Health Care Cuts

Governor's Budget Plan Includes Deep Health Care Cuts
Governor Schwarzenegger's revised budget plan contains nearly $2.5 billion of cuts in health and social service programs. The governor wants new restrictions on Medi-Cal.

Governor Schwarzenegger's revised budget plan contains nearly $2.5 billion of cuts in health and social service programs. The governor wants new restrictions on Medi-Cal.

The governor's plan limits Medi-Cal recipients to six prescription drugs a month. They would be allowed no more than 10 doctor visits a year.

Tracy Ream directs Neighborhood Healthcare, a network of 11 community clinics in San Diego and Riverside Counties.

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"Many of the patients that we're seeing have chronic illnesses," Ream said. "And to try to limit the number of primary care visits is probably only gonna push them into the emergency rooms in crisis."

The governor's proposal also eliminates substance abuse programs, except to pregnant woman and kids. It reduces community mental health services by 60 percent.