On Wednesday, the Senate and Assembly Health Committee’s held a joint legislative informational hearing titled, “Do Medi-Cal Rates Ensure Access to Care,” in an effort to address the problems within California’s Medi-Cal system, specifically the issue of Medi-Cal reimbursement rate cuts. Prior to the hearing, Senate Health Committee Chair Ed Hernandez (D-West Covina) and Assembly Health Committee Chair Rob Bonta (D-Alameda) joined health care providers, patients, and advocates on the steps of the Capitol and announced renewed efforts to restore the Medi-Cal reimbursement rate cuts made to the program in 2011. Comments focused on access to care issues, including facility closures and the swell of new Medi-Cal and Denti-Cal patients under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) that cannot find providers who accept the state’s Medicaid programs.
Newly introduced legislation, Senate Bill 243, by Senator Ed Hernandez, and Assembly Bill 366, by Assemblymember Rob Bonta, are two identical companion measures that seek to restore the 10 percent cut to Medi-Cal reimbursement rates, and propose that Medi-Cal payments to providers be on par with what Medicare pays for the same services.
Assembly Bill 97, a 2011-12 State Budget trailer bill, was passed by the Legislature and approved by Governor Brown in 2011. The measure cut rates to a variety of Medi-Cal providers, including Distinct Part/Skilled Nursing Facilities (DP/SNFs), pharmacies, and other fee-for-service Medi-Cal activities, by 10 percent off of the 2008 reimbursement rates.
The text of SB 243 can be accessed here. RCRC’s support letter can be accessed here. The text of AB 366 can be accessed here. RCRC’s support letter can be accessed here.