At Arrowhead Regional Medical Center, a county facility in San Bernadino County, volume has gone up 6% in the past year, said Dr. Rodney Borger, medical director of the ED at Arrowhead. The number of physician claims to the county's Maddy Fund has gone up 15% over the past 2 years, but the revenues have been flat or decreasing, said Dr. Borger, a member of the fund's oversight board.
When Gov. Schwarzenegger diverted the $25 million, San Bernadino lost $900,000, Dr. Borger said. In October, the county coped by cutting reimbursement by 24% to physicians at private EDs for uninsured care. Another 25% cut may be around the corner in July, said Dr. Borger, who added that he was hopeful that it could be averted.