Bill Restoring Medi-Cal's Eligibility Rules Brings California Vital Federal Funding For Health Care

Main Category: Public Health
Article Date: 31 Mar 2009 - 7:00 PDT

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The California Medical Association praised the governor and state legislators for restoring Medi-Cal eligibility rules, an action that allows the state to collect $10 billion from the federal stimulus package for health care.

Last week, the Legislature passed SB 3X 24, and Friday the governor signed it. The bill requires children on Medi-Cal, the government health care program for the poor, to renew their eligibility annually.

"This legislation is better for the state's kids and better for California," said Dr. Dev A. GnanaDev, CMA president. "By returning to last year's eligibility rules, we eliminate confusion, we ensure that more children get the medical attention they need and we take advantage of federal funding that will expand health care coverage."

As part of the state budget deal enacted last September, California moved from annual to semi-annual reporting on Medi-Cal eligibility for kids. But that provision made the state ineligible to receive $10 billion in higher federal reimbursements for Medi-Cal that was part of the federal stimulus package signed by President Obama in February.

The additional money is due to an increase in the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP), which determines how much reimbursement states get when providing Medicaid, known as Medi-Cal in California. The temporary increase in FMAP applies to the period Oct. 1, 2008 through Dec. 31, 2010.

The California Medical Association represents more than 35,000 physicians in all modes of practice and specialties. CMA is dedicated to the health of all patients in California.

Source
California Medical Association

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