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California Doctors, Lawmakers Renew Push for Medi-Cal Rate Increase

Doctors, insurers, a union and lawmakers are teaming up to push for an increase in Medi-Cal reimbursement rates to providers. As Health Care Reporter Pauline Bartolone in Sacramento tells us, the groups are asking for compensation equal to the federal Medicare program.

Lawmakers say they don't just want to reverse the 10 percent reimbursement cut to doctors under Medi-Cal, they want to increase payments to as much as three times what the current rate is for a typical doctor visit. Dr. Luther Cobb is President of the California Medical Association.

"It's not just because we want to drive a Mercedes. I drive a kia, a second hand one."

Cobb says California's Medicaid rates are among the lowest in the nation.

"When we see a patient that's one this program it doesn't pay for us to keeping the office open."

Doctors say Medi-Cal pays just over 16 dollars for a commonly billed patient visit. Lawmakers say if the rate were higher, more doctors may see more of the patients. But the Governor's office says a pay increase is not in the proposed budget this year.