Poll Proves Medi-Cal Patients Access Already Compromised October 20, 2011 CMA, Primary Care access to health care, Medi-Cal 0 Independent firm Fairbank, Maslin, Maullin, Metz & Associates (FM3) recently conducted a survey of California adults to measure their use of health care, attitudes toward their health coverage, and reactions to proposed health care policy changes. Specifically, the survey was done to determine access to care that Medi-Cal patients currently have compared to privately and uninsured patients across the state. “The data presented in this survey is a clear indication that patients’ needs aren’t being met with the current system,” Dustin Corcoran, the California Medical Association (CMA) CEO said. “California needs to be an example for health care reform in this country, and limiting patient access while reducing provider resources is a recipe for disaster. The proposed cuts that have been submitted by the Department Health Care Services (DHCS) to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid (CMS) are a clear violation of federal law. Access to care must be equal for Medi-Cal and privately insured patients and the facts are here- they’re simply not.” The survey was conducted after DHCS submitted state plan amendments (SPAs) that would reduce Medi-Cal reimbursements by 10%, limit patient visits and impose mandatory patient co-payments. “Medi-Cal patients already are disadvantaged in obtaining health care and these payment cuts will make it worse,” C. Duane Dauner, the CEO of the California Hospital Association said. Key findings of the survey as reported by the independent pollster include: There are significant disparities in health status and access to primary care between Medi-Cal patients and other Californians. When Medi-Cal patients needed health care, only half received it, compared to nearly 75% of privately insured patients. Medi-Cal patients are far more likely than other Californians to be turned down by a physician who would not accept Medi-Cal payment. Medi-Cal patients are more than four times more likely to get care in a hospital emergency room because they could not get an appointment with a doctor or clinic. Click here for the survey summary. Comments are closed.
