SACRAMENTO, Feb. 1, 2012 - After her tentative ruling on Monday, Judge Christina Snyder issued a final ruling in California Medical Association (CMA) et al. v. Douglas, granting the plaintiffs' request for a preliminary injunction, enjoining the State of California from implementing or otherwise applying its 10 percent Medi-Cal rate reduction.
"This is tremendous news for the future of medicine," said James T. Hay, M.D., CMA President. "Judge Snyder's prompt issuance of today's ruling is evidence of the important nature of this case. The state's repeated attempts to slash Medi-Cal reimbursements have been halted, once again. Rather than focusing on Medi-Cal cuts as a short-term budget solution, we should be working together to find long-term solutions; our hope is that we can now move forward with those discussions."
Plaintiffs in the case were the California Medical Association, the California Dental Association California Pharmacists Association, National Association of Chain Drug Stores, California Association of Medical Product Suppliers, AIDS Healthcare Foundation and American Medical Response.
"Judge Snyder's preliminary ruling stated that ‘fiscal crisis does not outweigh the serious irreparable injury plaintiffs would suffer absent the issuance of an injunction,' and with today's announcement, that message is heard loud and clear," Dr. Hay added.
For a copy of the plaintiffs' statement issued after Judge Snyder's tentative ruling on Monday, please visit the CMA website here.
The decision comes after the California Legislature passed and Governor Jerry Brown signed AB 97, which included a 10 percent reimbursement rate cut for physicians, dentists, pharmacists and other Medi-Cal providers.
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