US Supreme Court Sends Back to Lower Federal Appeals Court 3 Medi-cal Lawsuits for Further Review

Patti's Comments:  Big new development.

Excerpt from UDW: (click for entire article)

In a narrow 5 to 4 decision, the US Supreme Court today (February 22) sent back to the US 9th Circuit Court of Appeals the three Medi-Cal cases for further review, keeping those lawsuits alive – and for now, the lower court orders from those cases that continue to block the State from implementing Medi-Cal provider reductions.  Linked to those three Medi-Cal cases, which the US Supreme Court heard in oral arguments on October 3, 2012, are several other Medi-Cal related cases, including a 2009 lawsuit that blocked the State from rolling back State funding for In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) worker wages. [CDCAN will issue a more detailed report later this morning on the US Supreme Court ruling]

One of the three cases – Independent Living Center of Southern California v. Toby Douglas (the director of the Department of Health Care Services), was filed by 82 year old attorney and disability advocate Lynn Carman of the Medicaid Defense Fund, based in Novato, California.