FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 2, 2008
For More Information Contact:
Norma Jean Vescovo, Executive
Director
Independent Living Center of Southern California, Inc.
14407 Gilmore Street, Suite 101, Van Nuys, CA 91401
Tel: (818) 787-9495 or 785-6934
FAX: (818) 785-0330
Email: ilcsc@ilcsc.org
Medi-Cal
Emergency In The Valley
The Governor's
10% mid-year Medi-Cal cuts went into effect today. These cuts will cause
Medi-Cal recipients here in the San Fernando Valley, as well as the entire State
of California, to be unable to find doctors, dentists, and pharmacies willing to
serve them.
The Independent
Living Center of Southern California is a plaintiff in a lawsuit, filed against
the State of California for its 10% across-the-board cuts, filed in Los Angeles
Superior Court, on behalf of over two hundred thousand Medi-Cal recipients here
in the San Fernando Valley. Three Southland pharmacies, three Medi-Cal
beneficiaries, and Gray Panther groups of Sacramento and San Francisco are
additional plaintiffs in the lawsuit. A preliminary injunction to stop the
cuts was denied, and the plaintiffs appealed that denial to the 9th Circuit
Court. Yesterday, the Emergency Panel of the 9th Circuit Court issued an
Emergency Order for a hearing to be held on July 11th on the appeal.
Many
independent pharmacies in the San Fernando Valley are already not accepting any
new Medi-Cal patients, and some are now limiting the patient's supply of
medication to 30 days, in hopes that something will be accomplished through the
lawsuit. Pharmacies often pay more for a drug than they are reimbursed by
Medi-Cal, and if the cuts continue they will eventually be forced out of
business.
Thousands of
frail, elderly, and disabled recipients of Medi-Cal, right here in the Valley,
who may not be able to obtain medical services, which they desperately need to
survive, will either die or be forced into nursing homes or other institutions,
as a result.
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