You can't close a $26.3 billion budget gap without making choices, and the choices Gov. Gray Davis has made are telling. Among the $7.6 billion in spending cuts Davis proposes is one that will dump thousands of needy from the Medi-Cal rolls.
Those who manage to keep their health benefits will face more paperwork. Hospitals that serve the millions without insurance will get less support. So will doctors willing to serve the poor.
The governor proposes to cut what the state pays for the most common Medi-Cal office visits from $24 currently to $18.18. The cut moves California from a dismal 42nd of the 50 states in physician reimbursement to a shameful 48th.
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Keep the discussion civilized. Absolutely NO personal attacks or insults directed toward writers, nor others who make comments.
Keep it clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
Don't threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Anyone violating these rules will be issued a warning. After the warning, comment privileges can be revoked.