SAN FRANCISCO — A federal appeals court here has denied attempts by California’s Department of Health Care Services to suspend a lower court’s earlier decision to block cuts in Medi-Cal, the state’s Medicaid program.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit agreed late last month to deny the state’s emergency effort to suspend U.S. District Judge Christina Snyder’s earlier decision to block the reductions.

Health Care Services officials had wanted to trim 10% from Medi-Cal reimbursements for health care providers, including retail pharmacies.

Advocates sued, saying the cuts would make it harder for low-income residents to get health care. Even though the federal agency that oversees Medi-Cal had approved the budget cuts, Snyder agreed to block them while the case continues.

“We are pleased with the court’s decision, once again,” California Medical Association (CMA) president Dr. James Hay said after the appeals court handed down its ruling. “It is time for the state to stop looking to the Medi-Cal program for their budget problems.

“The court has spoken and proposed cuts have been blocked. Let’s move forward and find a solution rather than continuing down this road.”

CMA is one of several state and national professional organizations that have banded together to oppose the proposed Medi-Cal reimbursement cuts.

The association has been joined in its efforts by the California Dental Association, the California Pharmacists Association, the National Association of Chain Drug Stores, the California Association of Medical Product Suppliers, the AIDS Healthcare Foundation and American Medical Response.

“The court acted wisely in siding with patients in denying the state’s request for a stay,” NACDS president and chief executive officer Steve Anderson commented after the latest ­ruling.