Dear Allen -

This may be cold comfort, but I wonder whether or not your physician is in violation of California Health and Safety Code Sec. 124960(k):

The patient's physician may refuse to prescribe opiate
medication for a patient who requests the treatment for severe
chronic intractable pain. However, that physician shall inform the
patient that there are physicians who specialize in the treatment of
severe chronic intractable pain with methods that include the use of
opiates.

You might want to call his nurse and demand a referral to another pain physician who will prescribe opiate medication, pursuant to Sec. 124960(k), hopefully someone who also accepts MediCal reimbursment.

Thinking of you in any event,

Mike