Urge your legislators to oppose Governor Brown's budget proposal and respect the voters who supported Prop. 56 January 11, 2017 Advocacy, CMA, Medi Cal Budget, Medi-Cal, Proposition 56 0 Yesterday, the Governor released his fiscal year 2017-18 budget. The Governor’s proposed budget uses $1.2 billion from Proposition 56 funds toward increased health care costs in the Medi-Cal program. The proposed budget will use Proposition 56 funds toward the state’s existing General Fund obligations to the Medi-Cal program rather than increase provider payments as intended by the voters. Last year, the California Medical Association (CMA) co-sponsored Proposition 56 to save lives and improve access to quality medical services for all Californians - especially our most vulnerable communities who rely on Medi-Cal for basic care. With more than 14 million Californians - one in three - relying on Medi-Cal to provide basic health care and specialty care for serious diseases, the stakes are high. California cannot afford to continue starving this program by diverting Prop. 56 revenues to cover the state's general fund obligations. The CMA is asking its members to email or call their legislators to express opposition to the Governor’s budget proposal. Talking points and contact information are provided below. Please email or call your legislators and tell them to oppose this budget proposal. Assemblymember David Chiu (D-17) 916-319-2017 Assemblymember.chiu@assembly.ca.gov Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-19) 916-319-2019 Assemblymember.ting@assembly.ca.gov Senator Scott Wiener 916-651-4011 Senator.wiener@senate.ca.gov Talking Points On behalf of the California Medical Association, I urge you to oppose the Governor’s Medi-Cal budget proposal, which ignores the will of the voters who supported Prop. 56 to increase the state’s tobacco tax. The Medi-Cal system is struggling from persistent underfunding. As a result, California ranks among the lowest in the nation in payments to providers. These chronically low reimbursement rates have a direct effect on Medi-Cal patients’ ability to receive timely treatment from a physician. This funding could not be more urgent. With more than 14 million Californians relying on Medi-Cal programs to provide primary and specialty care, the stakes are high. We must honor the will of the voters and use the estimated $1 billion in new health care revenue for its intended purpose - improving payments for programs and providers to ensure that patients can see a doctor when and where they need one. More information, including a sample letter, is also available from CMA's website. Comments are closed.
