California providers sue over Medicaid rates; Texas weighs steep cuts for Medicaid rehab

Kaiser Health News: Local California Republicans Quietly Embrace Medicaid Expansion
The federal law extends Medicaid coverage to millions of Americans in 2014, including childless adults. But with permission – and dollars – from the federal government, California started the expansion early. ... Surprisingly though, the roll-out of what conservatives derisively call "Obamacare" has largely gone unnoticed in Bakersfield (Varney, 11/21).

Politico Pro: Health Groups Seek To Block Medicaid Cuts
The California Medicaid Association, the California Dental Association, the California Pharmacists Association and the National Association of Chain Drug Stores filed a lawsuit to block a 10 percent reimbursement rate cut in Medi-Cal, the state's Medicaid program. ... The [U.S.] Supreme Court is already considering a separate case arising from the state's cuts (Millman, 11/21).

The Associated Press/San Francisco Chronicle: Calif Doctors Sue Government Over Medi-Cal Cuts
The cuts approved last month by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services include a 10 percent reduction to payments for outpatient services for doctors, clinics, optometrists, dental services, medical equipment and pharmacies. ... Afterhours phone calls and emails to state and federal Medicaid administrators were not returned (11/21).

The Fort Worth Star-Telegram/McClatchy: Texas Might Cut Medicaid Reimbursements
Therapy and physician groups in Texas are alarmed about proposed cuts in government healthcare reimbursement rates that they say would hurt the sickest and poorest Texas patients ... The average reduction for home health providers, for example, would be 35 percent. ... The reductions vary by service and provider type. The average reduction would be 54 percent for comprehensive outpatient rehabilitation facilities and outpatient physical therapy and speech pathology facilities (Barbee, 11/21).