The California Attorney General on Wednesday asked the U.S. Supreme Court to review a court judgment forcing the state to reverse the 10 percent cut in Medi-Cal reimbursement that took effect on July 1, 2008. The 9th Circuit Court of Appeal upheld a federal trial court’s July 2009 injunction, which was based upon the finding that the cuts would irreparably harm access to health care for nearly 7 million Californians and were enacted in violation of federal Medicaid laws.

The Supreme Court previously declined to review a 9th Circuit decision confirming the right of California’s Medi-Cal providers to challenge state cuts to Medi-Cal provider reimbursement. If the current petition for review is granted, however, it will also give the state an opportunity to revisit the issue of whether providers have standing to challenge the cuts in federal court.

Contact: Samantha Pellon, 916/551-2872 or spellon@cmanet.org.