Story by Stephanie Snyder <\/p>\n
Low-income children in rural California communities are in jeopardy of losing their doctors and health care plans under Gov. Jerry Brown's budget proposal, state lawmakers, doctors and health advocates say. <\/p>\n
The governor is proposing to transfer nearly 900,000 children enrolled in Healthy Families, the states Childrens Health Insurance Program, to Medi-Cal a program aimed at serving the states poorest families, seniors and disabled residents. <\/p>\n
While combining the two programs might be a painless transition for children in urban areas with doctors who typically provide care to both Healthy Families and Medi-Cal patients, the transfer could severely limit access to health care for those on the outskirts. <\/p>\n
In the more rural areas or outlying areas, there would be quite a loss or quite a strain, said Stuart Cohen, a San Diego pediatrician and California chairman-elect for the American Academy of Pediatrics. Access to care would be a huge issue. <\/p>\n
And there would not be much incentive for rural doctors at full capacity to continue caring for their Healthy Families children if they have not already agreed to serve Medi-Cal patients, Cohen said. <\/p>\n
The governors proposal not only forces Healthy Families patients to move to Medi-Cal, but it also would require doctors to accept Medi-Cals monthly reimbursement an average cut of nearly 20 percent. <\/p>\n
Healthy Families doctors receive a monthly average of $103 per patient. They would receive an average of $84 per patient if they decide to make the switch to Medi-Cal, but California Medical Association spokeswoman Molly Weedn said the reimbursement often can be much less. <\/p>\n
Rates that physicians are reimbursed for a Medi-Cal patient are less than what a large pizza costs, she said. Its really incredible that a physician can be reimbursed $18, $20 (per month). <\/p>\n
A survey referenced by the Legislative Analysts Office asked pediatricians who now provide care to Healthy Families patients, but not Medi-Cal patients, if they would be willing to make the switch. The February report said 29 percent would not and 46 percent were not sure. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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Kids' access to health care a concern under Brown's budget<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Story by Stephanie Snyder Low-income children in rural California communities are in jeopardy of losing their doctors and health care plans under Gov. Continue reading