Ongoing Medi-Cal Reimbursement Negotiations Draw Criticism
San Joaquin County supervisors on Tuesday discussed a $40 million funding shortfall at San Joaquin General Hospital in French Camp because of ongoing negotiations between the state and federal government about Medi-Cal payments, with one supervisor calling for the closure of the facility unless the funds are released, the Stockton Record reports. State and federal officials are negotiating specific funds for hospitals that treat low-income patients and a requirement that counties submit documentation of expenditures to receive Medi-Cal reimbursement.
Medi-Cal accounts for more than 60% of the hospital's $175 million budget
Supervisor Jack Sieglock said the details of a new Medi-Cal payment system should have been finalized several months ago. Sieglock said he would consider discussing the closure of the facility if payments have not been received by the end of March.
County Administrator Manuel Lopez said the county could afford to support the hospital through March.
Jeff Flick, regional administrator for CMS, said that negotiations are progressing and that counties could receive funds within the next month.
A majority vote of the county board of supervisors would be needed to close the hospital (Kane, Stockton Record, 2/15).