Central Coast ER doctors rally against provider payment change

Central Coast emergency department doctors are rallying against proposed pay cuts, Wednesday. It’s a plan being discussed at a board meeting for the Central California Alliance for Health.

“I don’t think they’re considering the severe ramifications this could have for their patients,” said Natividad Hospital ER physician, Jeffrey Bass.

Physicians said the alliance’s proposal was alarming. The alliance currently manages Monterey, Santa Cruz, and Merced county Medi-Cal patients, and the prices they pay. They said reducing fees for ER services could save the alliance around $3.4 million a year. “When we’re in a situation where our medical expenses are higher than the revenue we receive from the state, we need to make every attempt to keep cost in line with that revenue, so we can provide all the services that our members need,” said Central Coast Alliance for Health CEO, Stephanie Sonnenshine.

Central Coast doctors believe the decision could end up doing more harm than good. Bass said recruiting new physicians to move to the area could become an even bigger challenge. “If you cut reimbursements enough that doctors can’t afford to live here or support their families they’re going to go elsewhere,” said Bass.

Other physicians see this impacting their patients most. Both Natividad and Salinas Valley Memorial emergency rooms are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Without the proper staff, doctors said the future of Central Coast ER services is in jeopardy. “We’re going to see increased waiting times, decreased quality of care and poorer outcomes for our patients,” said Natividad Hospital Emergency Department director, Christopher Burke.

The alliance’s board decided to reevaluate the decision in December.

KION 2019