It doesn't add any new doctors...
SAN DIEGO
— Dr. Ted Mazer is one of the few ear, nose and throat specialists in
this region who treat low-income people on Medicaid, so many of his
patients travel long distances to see him.
But now, as California’s Medicaid program is preparing for a major
expansion under President Obama’s health care law, Dr. Mazer says he
cannot accept additional patients under the government insurance program
for a simple reason: It does not pay enough.
“It’s a bad situation that is likely to be made worse,” he said.
His view is shared by many doctors around the country. Medicaid for
years has struggled with a shortage of doctors willing to accept its low
reimbursement rates and red tape, forcing many patients to wait for
care, particularly from specialists like Dr. Mazer.
Yet in just five weeks, millions of additional Americans will be
covered by the program, many of them older people with an array of
health problems. The Congressional Budget Office predicts that nine million people will gain coverage through Medicaid next year alone. In many of the 26 states expanding the program, the newly eligible have been flocking to sign up.
Keep on reading…
In my local paper today there was an article about the shortage of Dentists and the advent of an increase in Medicaid patients.
ReplyDeleteI keep seeing the term "older people" getting medical coverage now. Just what is "old"? WE get Medicare at age 65, not "old" then.
The Coming Medicaid Cost Explosion http://bit.ly/glp4mz
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