CA hospitals file ballot initiative to protect Medi-Cal pay

The California Hospital Association filed a ballot initiative Thursday aimed at ensuring hospital funds intended to pay for care provided to Medi-Cal patients are not diverted by lawmakers for other purposes. About 800,000 signatures will be needed to qualify the measure for the November 2014 ballot. If approved by voters, the measure would prohibit the governor and the Legislature from imposing a provider fee on hospitals unless the money and matching federal funds are used to pay for hospital care provided to Medi-Cal patients.