CDA joins other California groups in class action lawsuit against budget cuts

Sacramento, Calif.鈥擳he California Dental Association joined six other health care organizations in filing a class action lawsuit seeking to prevent a $1.3 billion cut in Denta-Cal and Medi-Cal payments scheduled to take effect July 1.

The tripartite state dental organization announced its participation in the legal action with medical, hospital, pharmaceutical and other providers “in an effort to ensure that all Californians have continued access to vital health care services.” The announcement at www.cda.org includes a press release, explanation of the legal causes of action, a question and answer statement, information on the plaintiff organizations and CDA contact information.

The lawsuit filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court contends that the planned payment cuts violate state and federal laws requiring that Medicaid payments “must be sufficient to enlist enough providers so that services under the (state’s Medicaid) plan are available to recipients at least to the extent that those services are available to the general public.”

All Californians should be concerned about the looming cuts “because when patients can’t find doctors and other providers to care for them, they will turn to already overcrowded emergency departments,” the Q&A statement says.