Medi-cal cuts planned

On December 13, the California Governor announced plans to cut the rates that the state pays to 35,000 doctors who contract with Medi-Cal, a program to help the poor. Purpose of the cuts is to keep the budget in balance by saving an estimated $60 million. The cuts are to be 5% to continue temporarily through 2006. The rates are already the lowest of any state and have caused about one half of the doctors to drop out. Many of the doctors who remain are continuing as a public service to the community, but the cuts may cause more to drop from the program.

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