Medi-Cal Cuts Could Hit Care for Hospitalized Patients With Disabilities
A 10% cut to Medi-Cal reimbursements to health care providers will harm hospitals' ability to provide care for patients with severe injuries or illnesses who need lifelong disability care, according to some hospital executives, KPCC's "KPCC News" reports. Medi-Cal is California's Medicaid program (Small, "KPCC News," KPCC, 5/12).
The Legislature and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) approved the cuts to Medi-Cal reimbursements in February as part of an effort to address the state budget deficit (California Healthline, 5/6).
Such patients require specialized care in subacute care units, and many turn to Medi-Cal when their private insurance runs out, "KPCC News" reports.
The segment includes comments from:
- Rose Marie Cruz, manager of the subacute care unit at Sharp Coronado Hospital;
- Marcia Hall, CEO of Sharp Coronado Hospital; and
- Mike Murphy, president of Sharp HealthCare ("KPCC News," KPCC, 5/12).