Thousands of Low-Income Patients Lose UCLA Health Access as Medi-Cal Contract Ends
Thousands of low-income patients, many with serious illnesses, are losing access to specialty care at UCLA Health following the expiration of a Medi-Cal contract on June 30. Under the previous agreement, UCLA Health provided specialized medical services to approximately 9,000 medically frail patients referred by Health Care LA, an association of nonprofit clinics serving Medi-Cal beneficiaries. These patients sought treatment for conditions such as cancer, infectious diseases, high-risk women's services, and major organ transplants. Health Care LA initially announced that UCLA Health declined to renegotiate the contract, citing 'capacity issues' at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center. However, a scheduled news conference to detail patient struggles was canceled after both organizations reached a tentative agreement for a one-year transition period. This agreement ensures that established UCLA Health patients, those with existing appointments, and individuals requiring other agreed-upon services will continue... 
