The current statistics show only 25-40% of physicians accept Medicaid patients. If Medicaid evolves into the “something” for universal coverage, what aspects of Medicaid programs need improvement for your physicians to consider joining?
• Realistic & reasonable reimbursement rates
• Timely claims processing
• Assistance dealing with cancellations/ no-shows
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My experience as a consumer of healthcare (not a practioner) and one who adopted two kids from the state who came with Medicaid coverage -- Medicaid is a poor substitute for private health care insurance. There was only one dentist who accepted it in the region -- and only saw Medicaid patients Thursday afternoons (very limited window); the optical care was below basic - an exam and one plastic frame choice for children...my son cried when he saw the very ugly frame and begged me not to get them. The primary physician choice was very limited and often only in "bad" neighborhoods. Urgent Care does not take it...so off to the emergency room at the hospital to get non-office hour sick care (how stupid is that?) Prescription coverage was great but that was it. From my experience ALL aspects, except prescription care, need to be upgraded to entice more providers to join and to provide better healthcare services. So, if we move to simply expanding Medicaid coverage, we're not doing too many folks a big service - huge waiting lines, undermarket care services, a poor folks healthcare ghetto system.
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