Proposed Bill Would Cut Medi-Cal Payments for Major Medical Mistakes
A bill (AB 542) moving through the California Legislature aims to prevent the state from using public funds to reimburse health care providers for preventable medical errors, California Watch's "CaliforniaWatchBlog" reports.
The measure, by Assembly member Mike Feuer (D-Los Angeles), would establish a working group of experts to determine how the Department of Health Care Services would implement the new payment policy through Medi-Cal, California's Medicaid program.
The policy change would bring Medi-Cal in line with Medicare, which does not cover certain medical mistakes. The measure also would fulfill a provision of the federal health reform law that calls for states to implement such policies.
Proponents say the measure could reduce Medi-Cal spending by about $13 million annually.
During a Senate Health Committee hearing last week, opponents of the bill said they would no longer fight the measure because Feuer agreed to amendments that aim to prevent the nonpayments from serving as a gateway to medical malpractice claims (Jewett, "CaliforniaWatchBlog," California Watch, 7/6).
This is part of the California Healthline Daily Edition, a summary of health policy coverage from major news organizations. Sign up for an email subscription.