AB 1805 Bill to Reverse Medi-Cal Provider Rate Cuts Unanimously Pass First Hurdle April 25, 2014 Advocacy, Medi Cal, Payment Medi-Cal provider reimbursement, Richard Pan, 2014 legislation, AB 1805 0 The Assembly Committee on Health this week unanimously voted to reverse the 10% Medi-Cal provider reimbursement rate cuts that was enacted as part of the 2011 State Budget Act. Medi-Cal ranks 48th in the country in Medicaid reimbursements for primary care services, and 47th for all payments over all. These poor rates, which translate to approximately 51% of Medicare rates, have resulted in severe access to care changes just as California expands Medi-Cal eligibility. AB 1805, authored by Assemblymembers Richard Pan (D-Sacramento) and Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley) requires the Department of Health Care Services to disregard the 10% payment reductions for Medi-Cal providers that were made in 2011. "In California, we have more than 10 million people in Medi-Cal," Skinner said. "That's over 25% of our state's population. How can it benefit anyone to be on Medi-Cal if you can't find a doctor to see you who will take Medi-Cal?" "Access is such a critical issue," said Assembly committee member Marie (R-Escondido). "We know we have a doctor shortage. We want California to be competitive. If we can at least try to be competitive with reimbursement rates, we can guarantee we have physicians for our citizens." AB 1805 passed out of committee on unanimous 19-0 vote and headed to the Assembly Committee on Appropriations. Comments are closed.
