Processing Medi-Cal Applications Exceeds State Time Limit
Two advocacy groups on Tuesday filed a lawsuit seeking an injunction to require the state to process Medi-Cal applications within 90 days, as required by state law, the Los Angeles Times reports. The lawsuit also seeks a court order directing the state to expedite services for people who are awaiting medical treatment under Medi-Cal, California's Medicaid program.
In a sample of 2,188 Medi-Cal applications from 2005, none were processed in 90 days, according to the lawsuit. Bay Area Legal Aid and the Western Center on Law and Poverty filed the suit in San Francisco Superior Court.
Kimberly Lewis -- a lawyer with WCLP, an advocacy group for low-income California residents -- said the state has ignored these complications for at least two years.
State officials said they had not seen the lawsuit and could not comment on its claims (Garrison, Los Angeles Times, 10/11).