Public HealthSan Jose Mercury News Slams The Governor's Health Care Cuts
The San Jose Mercury News blasted the governor"s plan to gut health care funding for children and the poor. In an editorial published Sunday, the Merc said: ". . . the cuts the governor has proposed so far inflict far more damage than necessary, in part because they needlessly throw away federal dollars. He has better options. Schwarzenegger is suggesting California eliminate its Healthy Families program and enact a $750 million cut in Medi-Cal eligibility, both so pound-foolish that we can"t even call them penny-wise."
The California Medical Association opposes the health care cuts and believes Medi-Cal savings could be found in other areas, such as modernizing and streamlining its overly burdensome Treatment Authorization Request (TAR) process. By requiring this paperwork, the state is inhibiting access to care and adding unnecessary costs and delays to the system.
CMA will join Assemblymen Ted Lieu, D-Torrance, and Jim Beall, D-San Jose, on Wednesday in asking the Joint Legislative Audit Committee (JLAC) to order an audit of the TAR process.
Dr. Ted Mazer, an ear, nose and throat physician from San Diego, will address the committee on CMA"s behalf and talk about how TARs and other program problems led him to quit taking Medi-Cal patients.
JLAC"s hearing is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. Holler if you"d like any background or have any questions!
California Medical Association