A Superior Court judge has ruled San Diego County can no longer use a strict income limit to determine whether local residents are entitled to free medical care. The ruling means the County must take into account a person's ability to pay. KPBS Reporter Kenny Goldberg has the story.
The County Medical Services program is designed for low-income residents who can't qualify for other health plans. San Diego County has refused to cover individuals who make more than $802 a month.
Katie Murphy is an attorney with the Western Center on Law and Poverty, which challenged the policy. She says a 1999 State Supreme Court ruling is clear on the concept.
Murphy: "The Supreme Court of California said a county's financial standard that fails to consider the applicant's ability to pay for the costs of care and the other necessities of life is invalid."
The County has been ordered to review all denials of care over the past two years. The County may be forced to reimburse those were denied coverage.
Kenny Goldberg, KPBS News.
