January 10, 2004 - California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger unveiled his proposed spending plan for fiscal year 2004-05. It included large health care spending cuts with 10% provider rate reductions for most Medi-Cal providers � including ESRD providers. Story from San Jose Mercury News.

December 24, 2003 - A federal judge issued a preliminary injunction on December 23rd preventing proposed cuts affecting about half of California's poor and disabled on Medi-Cal from going into effect Jan. 1. Story from San Francisco Chronicle.

December 17, 2003 - A coalition of California Medicaid beneficiaries and health care providers have filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Sacramento seeking a preliminary injunction to stop $237 million in state Medicaid reimbursement cuts scheduled to take effect Jan. 1. News item from American Hospital Association.

A copy of the lawsuit (pdf) can be viewed via the California Dialysis Council web site (news section).

September 24, 2003 - All 50 states and the District of Columbia implemented Medicaid cost-containment measures in FY 2003. Medicaid spending growth declined for first time in seven years. Story from Kaiser Network.

July 5, 2003 - Indiana has changed how it interprets a federal Medicaid law. This change has enormous consequences for ESRD patients that utilize Indiana Medicaid assistance. Story from the Post-Tribune (Northwest Indiana).

July 1, 2003 - The most recent proposal to cut Medi-Cal payments to providers could mean the difference between life and death for thousands of California kidney dialysis patients. The plan, proposed by Assembly Members Joe Canciamilla (D-Pittsburg) and Keith Richman (R-Northridge), would balance the budget by cutting Medi-Cal provider rates by 10 percent and establish Medi-Cal co-pays. Press release via PRNewsWire.

Fearing the potential that some Medi-Cal kidney dialysis patients would be unable to afford life-saving dialysis treatments the National Kidney Foundation of Northern California (web site) and leading dialysis providers called on state legislators and the administration to find ways to solve the budget crisis without putting vulnerable patients in harm's way.

April 29, 2003 - Rising medical costs and declining revenues have caused lawmakers in many states to consider eliminating Medicaid benefits, tightening eligibility or lowering physician reimbursements in order to rein in costs. Story from Kaiser Network.

In Florida, a group of Sanford dialysis patients who pleaded for their lives in letters and pictures sent to lawmakers. They've been erased off organ transplant lists because they can't afford the anti-rejection drugs. Story from the St. Petersburg Times.

Ironically, convicts in many states get excellent medical care while the poor, elderly and disabled are losing benefits. Story from the Statesman Journal (Oregon).

March 3, 2003 - Facing deep cuts in state Medicaid funding, local communities around the U.S. are having to make decisions about health care with fewer, starker, and meaner options. Many such decisions involve dialysis patients who do not have private health insurance. Column from the Newsday.com (NY) (link no longer available).

Here is a report from Kaiser Network that summarizes coverage of recent developments in state Medicaid programs.

On February 25th, the National Governors Association announced that it has decided to seek financial assistance for states from Congress, following President Bush's announcement that states should not expect to receive any funding beyond what is contained in his budget proposal. Summary from Kaiser Network.

December 13, 2002 - California Governor Gray Davis has proposed a 10 percent reduction in reimbursement to "all Medi-Cal providers." Here is a memorandum (pdf format) from Michael Arnold and Kristian Foy to the California Dialysis Council (CDC) on the proposed cuts.

The CDC immediately implemented a political strategy designed to stop the proposal to cut reimbursement rates for dialysis providers. Memorandum (pdf) from Michael Arnold and Kristian Foy.

Almost every state in the nation is "in fiscal crisis," which could prompt many to reduce Medicaid spending. Summary from the Kaiser Network.



[This message has been edited by Gary Peterson (edited 01-10-2004).]