Physician Shortage Concerns Persist for Medi-Cal Program
California's Legislature has approved legislation (AB 342, SB 208) that would expand indigent health care services and draw down about $10 billion in federal funding for Medi-Cal, the state's Medicaid program, but concerns remain over the number of health care providers needed to care for thousands of new patients. Some experts say the funding could encourage more physicians to accept low-income, uninsured patients.
- "More Funding for Medi-Cal, but Are There Enough Doctors?" (Sepulvado, "The California Report," KQED, 10/11).