San Diego County is taking part in a class action lawsuit against the federal government. The suit alleges the Medicare system underpays doctors in San Diego and in more than 175 other counties nationwide. KPBS reporter Kenny Goldberg has more.
The Medicare system pays doctors via a fee schedule that depends on an area’s classification. San Diego is classified as a rural county. The lawsuit alleges Medicare has therefore shortchanged local doctors by more than 160-million dollars since 2002.
San Diego County Supervisor Ron Roberts says he’s just looking for fair treatment from the federal government.
Roberts : We’re not asking for something special. We’ve been singled out as a rural county. We want our doctors reimbursed as they are in any other urban area in this country, period.
Roberts says he’s asked for help from federal officials, but to no avail.
Six other California counties, including Santa Cruz and Santa Barbara, have joined San Diego in the lawsuit.
Kenny Goldberg, KPBS News.
