NYT: Doctors Argue Against Higher Co-Payments for Medicaid

[DeepModem Mom]

Doctors Argue Against Higher Co-Payments for Medicaid
By ROBERT PEAR
Published: August 18, 2005


WASHINGTON, Aug. 17 - The Bush administration clashed with doctors on Wednesday over the merits of a proposal to charge higher co-payments to Medicaid recipients, with doctors warning that the fees could deter some poor people from seeking necessary medical care.

The debate came at a meeting of a federal advisory panel appointed by the administration to help rein in the growth of Medicaid, which provides health insurance to more than 50 million low-income people.

Congress may use the panel's advice as a basis for legislation this fall.

Under the current Medicaid law and rules, co-payments for most adults cannot exceed $3 for goods and services like prescription drugs, visits to doctors and outpatient hospital visits. For children younger than 18, co-payments are not allowed.

The panel, known as the Medicaid Commission, is considering an option that would allow states to charge higher co-payments, $5 for adults and $3 for children....


http://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/18/politics/18medicaid.html

[mom cat]

1. From the needy to the greedy!