Now join in to oppose recent 5% Medi-Cal cut

Re “A healthy strategy,” editorial, Jan. 4

The California Medical Assn. applauds The Times for urging Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to face up to “the problem of California’s 6.5 million uninsured people” by expanding the Healthy Families program. This program, which provides affordable medical insurance for the children of working families, is also a bargain because the federal government matches every state dollar with two of its own.

But Schwarzenegger and The Times should join the CMA in opposing the recent 5% Medi-Cal cut, which devastates the state’s neediest patients. California already ranks 50th of the 50 states in Medi-Cal reimbursements. Rather than saving money, this cut costs millions. First, California loses $60 million in federal matching. Second, the sick will go to emergency rooms when they are far sicker. Many will be hospitalized. This costs much more.

CMA is fighting to reverse this cut. But it also wants to work with the governor to re-engineer Medi-Cal, reducing costs and improving quality, while keeping our commitment to care for California’s children, aged and disabled.

MICHAEL SEXTON M.D.

President, California Medical

Assn., Sacramento