A federal appeals court has rejected a move by the state of California to cut the rates Medi-Cal pays doctors by 10 percent. The legislature approved the Medi-Cal rate cuts last year.
A group of healthcare providers had challenged the cuts, arguing the state failed to study the impact on access to care.
A judge issued an injunction, and the 9th District Court of Appeals ruled against the state last July. The panel rejected the state's request for a rehearing this week.
Dr. Ted Mazer is an ear, nose, and throat specialist in San Diego. He says a lot of doctors no longer treat Medi-Cal patients.
"And there are so few people even seeing those in my specialty, that my patients come from as far away as Fallbrook, Oceanside, and all the up from South Bay near the border," Mazer said.
A spokesman for Governor Schwarzenegger said an appeal to the U. S. Supreme Court is being considered.
