Feds Affirm States’ Right To Cut Medicaid Reimbursement Rates

On March 1, 2013, the federal government reiterated its position that states can cut Medicaid reimbursement rates, as long as the reduction does not harm beneficiary access to care. The statement was in a brief filed before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals opposing a request by the California Medical Association (CMA) that the entire court reconsider the ruling of a three-judge panel in California Medical Association v. Douglas et al. In that decision, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the federal government’s right to approve state requests to cut rates for provider organizations. The CMA was . . .