MemorialCare Joins Forces with Physician Partners to Advocate for a Balanced, Fiscally Responsible Healthcare System

SACRAMENTO, Calif., April 2, 2008 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- MemorialCare is joining forces with its physician partners to influence the state legislative process to bring attention to the hard hits health care providers have been taking. Most recently, the Governor signed legislation directing 10% Medi-Cal reimbursement cuts to physicians, as well as 10% cuts to all hospital outpatient services and non-contracted inpatient services.

In efforts to continue to build a proactive relationship with state and local government, MemorialCare is hosting its 3rd Annual MemorialCare Advocacy Day in Sacramento April 2-3. Thirty-nine representatives from MemorialCare, including 23 physicians and executive leadership will be attending. Dedicated physician leaders have taken time away from their practices to travel to Sacramento with senior executives at MemorialCare to advocate for a balanced, fiscally responsible healthcare delivery system. MemorialCare is the only health system that partners in this way with its physicians to change the minds of elected officiates about the enacted Medi-Cal cuts.

MemorialCare representatives will be meeting with leaders from the California Medical Association, the California Hospital Association, Health and Human Services Secretary Kim Belshe, and Senate and Assembly Budget Health members from its Districts.

MemorialCare is a nationally-recognized, not-for-profit health system, with top ratings for quality and safety. There are five hospitals within the MemorialCare Health System serving Los Angeles and Orange counties: Anaheim Memorial, Long Beach Memorial, Miller Children's Hospital, Orange Coast Memorial in Fountain Valley, Saddleback Memorial in Laguna Hills and San Clemente. MemorialCare is dedicated to improving the health and well being of individuals, families and our communities through innovation and the pursuit of excellence.

MemorialCare's commitment to high quality, evidence-based, best practice medicine sets its health care system apart from all others. This unique physician partnership has enabled MemorialCare to often benchmark above state and regional averages for clinical outcomes.

For more information about MemorialCare's Annual Advocacy Day, please contact Peter Mackler, Director, Government Relations and Policy at (213) 453-6963 or pmackler@memorialcare.org.

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Source: MemorialCare

CONTACT: Peter Mackler, Director, Government Relations and Policy of
MemorialCare, +1-213-453-6963, pmackler@memorialcare.org

Web Site: http://www.memorialcare.org/

2008-04-02 19:20:25 0326929 PRNEWSWIRE