Editorial: Payment Cuts Would Hurt Medi-Cal Expansion

A Los Angeles Times editorial argues that the expansion of Medi-Cal could be undermined if the state implements a 10% cut in payments to health care providers this year. Medi-Cal is California's Medicaid program. It notes, "[T]he state is flirting with disaster in Medi-Cal," adding, "There may not be enough doctors, hospitals and clinics to treat the more than 7.5 million people already in the program if the state" moves forward with the payment cut. It concludes, "Lawmakers and the Brown administration have to stop pretending that cutting provider rates are a painless shortcut to Medi-Cal savings."

• "The Budget vs. Medi-Cal" (Los Angeles Times, 6/28).