The California Orthotic & Prosthetic Association (COPA) has updated the status of its fight to keep O&P care on the list of items and services for which Medi-Cal, California’s Medicaid Program, reimburses. COPA Executive Director, Bryce Docherty, explained on the COPA website, “Governor Schwarzenegger’s proposed budget for 2010-11 anticipates receipt of $6.9 billion in additional resources from the federal government. Failure to secure these funds would ‘trigger’ a number of additional cuts, including the elimination of the remaining Medi-Cal optional benefits including orthotics & prosthetics!”
In the first week of April, COPA posted to its website an update on the group’s current efforts. According to Docherty, COPA has testified before the California’s Senate Budget Subcommittee #3, Health and Human Services, to oppose the proposed “trigger” elimination of O&P benefits. “We are delighted to report that the subcommittee unequivocally agreed with us and recommended rejection of these cuts!!” Docherty wrote on the COPA website. “However, our fight is far from over. The Governor Schwarzenegger Administration testified that they are analyzing the effect of the recently passed federal healthcare-reform package mandates on the California Medi-Cal Program. Therefore, we expect a revised budget proposal by Gov. Schwarzenegger in May (referred to as the May Revise) that will reconfigure their revenue estimates and potential cuts. We also need to keep up the fight to ensure the rejection recommendation by the full Senate Budget Committee and work to ensure the Assembly Budget Subcommittee takes similar action!”
For more information on this issue, see “COPA: California May Eliminate O&P From Medi-Cal.”
