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PermalinkTuesday, January 3, 2012
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State Plans To Appeal Ruling Blocking Medi-Cuts
Aired 1/3/12
State officials says they'll ask the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals to overturn an injunction blocking cuts to Medi-Cal providers.
California — A federal judge has blocked the state from cutting Medi-Cal payments to pharmacists and hospitals. California officials say they'll ask an appeals court to reverse the injunction.
State lawmakers cut Medi-Cal payment rates by 10 percent last year to help balance the budget.
Healthcare providers sued, saying the state failed to take into account the impact the cuts would have on access to care. A federal judge in Los Angeles agreed, and issued an injunction last week.
Jon Roth heads up the California Pharmacists Association. He said most pharmacists barely break even on Medi-Cal prescriptions.
"Any additional reductions would mean fewer patients will get their medications, because providers will not be able to afford to offer those," Roth said.
California physicians have filed a separate challenge to the Medi-Cal cuts. Their case is scheduled to be heard later this month.
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