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News

County Slashes Pay for ER Docs Who Treat Uninsured

By  Lindsay William-Ross
Published Feb 16, 2010 11:00 PM
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Photo by nailmaker via LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr
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Doctors who work in emergency rooms and in private hospitals will receive less compensation from Los Angeles County for their work with the uninsured, reports CBS2.Yesterday the County Board of Supervisors "voted to reduce the reimbursement rate from 27 to 18 percent as of July," which is the amount "the county pays to doctors who treat uninsured patients at private hospitals for their first three days of care."

The pay cut will affect an estimated 4,700 doctors and 150,000 patients, and are what Supervisor Don Knabe notes "insulting to doctors." Despite the fact that these cuts pose a risk to the overall health of the county's ER care, the Board believes there's no choice but to proceed with the reductions. "The county health department faces a $200 million deficit and suspended all reimbursements last July."

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