Stanislaus County Cancels Clinic Contract With Kaiser Permanente
Beginning in May 2008, the Stanislaus County Health Services Agency's clinics no longer will see Kaiser Permanente members, the Modesto Bee reports. The county also is canceling contracts to provide services in its clinics to members of two other insurers.
The cancellation will allow the county to serve more Medi-Cal patients at higher reimbursement rates. Medi-Cal is California's Medicaid program.
The county sent a cancellation notice to Kaiser in November when it could not negotiate a high rate, Mary Ann Lee, the agency's managing director, said. The county estimates a gain of $350,000 annually from the cut and other decisions.
The decision will require between 2,000 and 3,000 Kaiser members to change physicians (Carlson, Modesto Bee, 12/17).