Aanestad Votes For Budget Reduction Package, USA
"The health portion of this package that passed off the Senate Floor today unfairly targets Medi-Cal provider rates, which means a 10% cut in the reimbursement rate," said Senator Aanestad. "This package should reflect an across the board cut in every department and in every area of state spending. The pain should be spread equally. Instead, we have a package that contains big winners and big losers."
Senator Aanestad says the 10% in Medi-Cal provider rates will result in fewer facilities for Medi-Cal patients, reduced access to health care services and will lead to higher hospital utilization for basic services. It will also result in a loss of federal funding. A $1 billion cut in Medi-Cal provider rates, for example, will result in a $2 billion cut to health services once the loss of federal funding is factored in.
"I find it incomprehensible that the majority party would offer up a flawed and costly health care reform plan in January that would have cost taxpayers $14 billion, then offer up a 10% cut in provider rates two weeks later," said Senator Aanestad. "Where are our priorities?"
Senator Aanestad says his refusal to support today's health budget package should not be taken as a sign that he's not ready to take action on future proposed state budget cuts. He and other Senate Republican leaders have already submitted a list of proposed cuts that will help erase the looming deficit without tax hikes.
But Aanestad also believes health care services are shouldering an unfair burden of the emergency spending reduction package that passed off the Senate Floor today. Medi-Cal physicians already receive less than thirty cents on the dollar for the services they provide, and today's action means even those paltry reimbursements will be reduced.
"California already ranks dead last among all states in Medi-Cal provider rates," said Senator Aanestad. "Today's action means doctors will simply stop seeing those patients. I predict this will lead to the demise of the Medi-Cal program."
"We don't have enough Medi-Cal providers in the rural areas that I represent in Northern California as it is," concluded Senator Aanestad. "Today's action will only make that problem worse."
http://republican.sen.ca.gov/web/4
Aanestad de voturi pentru bugetul de reducere pachet, SUA - Aanestad Votes For Budget Reduction Package, USA - articole medicale engleza - startsanatate