The California Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Health Number 1 has voted to reject the proposed elimination of O&P benefits from Medi-Cal, California’s Medicaid program. However, the benefits aren’t out of the woods yet. According to the California Orthotic and Prosthetic Association (COPA), the bipartisan decision was recommended by a “longtime friend of the O&P industry,” Assembly Subcommittee Chair Dave Jones (D-Sacramento). COPA Executive Director and Legislative Advocate, Bryce Docherty, testified in opposition to the cuts and supported Jones’ motion. Ralph Nobbe, CO, president of COPA, said, “A special ‘Thank You’ goes out to all COPA members, their patients, and our national partners (AOPA, AAOP, and ACA) for answering the urgent call last week to write letters to the assembly subcommittee. Every little bit helps!”
However, according to Nobbe, Governor Schwarzenegger’s office is now waiting for the state’s April cash receipts to come in, which will help the state accounting offices estimate the state’s 2011 general-fund reserves. Then, the budget-revision process will begin, in which programs are eliminated or retained on a case-by-case basis. These changes will be incorporated in the “May Revise” budget, which will be released on May 14.
“Personally, I fully expect we will be eliminated in the budget just because of the current condition of California’s finances,” Nobbe said. “Last year, the legislature eliminated adult dental and vision from Medi-Cal, and those were considered sacred cows that would never be eliminated. That’s the precedent, and I think we’re going to have to go to battle in front of the full assembly and the senate to get us back and to retain us in the budget.”
If O&P benefits are eliminated, it may take months more to resolve the issue. California’ fiscal year begins in July, but in 2009, the states’ budget wasn’t determined until the end of August. If this happens, COPA has pledged to escalate its advocacy efforts to the entire California senate and assembly budget committees as well as to legislative leadership.
For more information, visit www.oandp.com/copa
