On Tuesday, Apr. 15, more than 350 physicians from throughout California marched on the Capitol to protest 10-percent cuts to the state's Medi-Cal program. Doctors wearing white coats walked from the Sacramento Convention Center to the Capitol carrying a 16-foot wide, red and blue banner that read: "Medi-Cal Cuts Cost ALL Californians." The march was part of the CMA's 34th Annual Legislative Leadership Conference.

The contingent from the Riverside County Medical Association consisted of 13 physicians, two students and two staff. The group visited the Capitol to call attention to the plight that patients in their various communities face. The cuts mean a 10-percent reduction in rates that already don't cover the cost of care, and are among the lowest reimbursements in the nation. Many doctors have said they will stop taking new Medi-Cal patients, who number 6 million, or stop serving Medi-Cal patients completely if the cuts go through. Medi-Cal covers more than 3 million children and nearly a million seniors.

Doctors from throughout California wanted to let legislators and the governor know that they will have to turn patients away and lay off staff if these cuts take effect. Physicians cannot keep their practices running with reimbursements that do not cover their cost of care. These cuts will not only leave millions of Californians stranded with reduced or no access to their critical healthcare needs, but could break the back of a healthcare system that is already under serious strain.

While visiting Sacramento, doctors learned more about the state government process by attending hearings and visiting with legislators from their local areas. The RCMA group broke into teams and met with Assemblymember Paul Cook, as well as staff from the offices of Senators Hollingsworth, Ducheny and Dutton and Assemblymembers Benoit, Jeffries and Garcia. The doctors were able to give the legislators and their staff a first-hand account of their own experiences in treating patients and in operating their medical practices.