Editorial: Public Has Right To Sue Over Medicaid Cuts
"If states aren't meeting their obligations under the law and are effectively denying the poor access to the health care Medicaid was designed to provide, the public should be able to hold them accountable," a Los Angeles Times editorial argues. The Supreme Court is hearing a case to determine whether physicians and Medicare beneficiaries can sue states over provider reimbursements. The case stems from reimbursement cuts the California Legislature approved in 2008 and 2009 to Medi-Cal, the state's Medicaid program. The editorial concludes, "When state lawmakers don't abide by federal law, it's not enough to count on Washington to resolve the conflict in a timely manner. The people who are harmed by violations of the Medicaid Act should be able to go to court to stop them."
- "Taking Medi-Cal to Court" (Los Angeles Times, 10/5).