Just before the holidays I read a short article about how Medicaid rate increases for primary-care services were not extended. This means the already low reimbursement rates will be lower this year -- 42.8% on average, but at least 50% lower here in California, Florida and New York. There is already a shortage of physicians willing to accept Medicaid payments; but the Medicaid population is growing.
It comes down to a basic supply/demand curve. The demand is increasing (patients) and I suspect the supply (physicians) will decrease further - at least in some markets. What good is having insurance when there is limited or no access to care? Insurance is only part of the process and I'm afraid some of our elected officials didn't realize this or were blindly "waiting to she what's in it."
Yes, we shall see how this one unfolds.
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