California wants to pay doctors more money to persuade them to see more Medicaid patients. Medicaid is the government-funded health insurance program for people with low incomes or disabilities.
When Hunter Morgan bought an optometry practice in Southern California three years ago, one of the first things he did was start seeing patients who use Medicaid, the government-funded health insurance program for low-income people.
. But while California's Medicaid now covers about 15 million people, the rates it pays to doctors have not kept up.from the state Legislature last year to keep from closing. And it has made it harder for people enrolled in Medicaid to find doctors willing to treat them, forcing some to drive long distances to seek care.
Last year Newsom signed a law that greatly increased this tax. It means the state will get $19.4 billion through 2026. On Thursday, the Legislature voted to increase it again, which will generate an estimated $1.5 billion more. How much, and who will get it, will be fully decided this year. The first increases last year went to primary care doctors, maternity care and some mental health services. This year’s increases, which have not yet been approved by the Legislature, would include things like obstetric, vaccine and abortion services — and optometry.
“If things really did get bad, I think, they could use the money for other purposes," said Kristine Schultz, executive director of the California Optometric Association. “It’s a real concern,” said Stuart Thompson, senior vice president for governmental affairs for the California Medical Association, during a recent public hearing before lawmakers. “We don’t want to create a scenario in which we have a program that goes for four years and then we reach the cliff.”
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California wants to pay doctors more money to see Medicaid patientsCalifornia wants to pay doctors more money to convince them to see more Medicaid patients
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California wants to pay doctors more money to see Medicaid patientsCalifornia wants to pay doctors more money to convince them to see more Medicaid patients.
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California wants to pay doctors more money to see Medicaid patientsCalifornia wants to pay doctors more money to convince them to see more Medicaid patients.
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California wants to pay doctors more money to see Medicaid patientsCalifornia wants to pay doctors more money to convince them to see more Medicaid patients. Medicaid is the government-funded health insurance program for people with low incomes or disabilities. Democrats have greatly increased the number of people eligible for Medicaid in California. But the rates Medicaid pays doctors have not kept up.
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California wants to pay doctors more money to see Medicaid patientsCalifornia wants to pay doctors more money to convince them to see more Medicaid patients.
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