Challenge to Medi-Cal Cuts for Some Health Centers Heads to Court
A hearing in a lawsuit challenging the elimination of Medi-Cal payments for some services at rural health centers and federally qualified community health centers is tentatively scheduled for June 26, the Redding Record Searchlight reports.
Medi-Cal is California's Medicaid program (Winters, Redding Record Searchlight, 5/6).
The California Primary Care Association filed the lawsuit, which targets about $120 million in state funding cuts for Medi-Cal. The cuts call for the elimination of coverage for:
- Adult dental care;
- Chiropractic services;
- Acupuncture;
- Psychological care;
- Podiatry; and
- Speech therapy.
The suit maintains that the state and federal government define the benefits set to be eliminated as core services for RHCs and FQHCs.
The cuts are scheduled to take effect July 1 (California Healthline, 4/30).
Cathy Larsen â" executive director of Southern Trinity Health Services, a facility that is a plaintiff in the suit --- said the cuts likely would prompt more people to seek emergency dental care at hospital emergency departments (Redding Record Searchlight, 5/6).
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