By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    headphones can create health problems
    The Harmful Health Effects of Using Headphones
    September 24, 2021
    Headache causes
    4 Causes Of Headache You Probably Didn’t Know About
    December 28, 2021
    follow these steps to recover from your injury
    What Steps Should You Take to Recover More Quickly from an Injury?
    April 12, 2022
    Latest News
    Beyond Nutrition: Everyday Foods That Support Whole-Body Health
    June 15, 2025
    The Wide-Ranging Benefits of Magnesium Supplements
    June 11, 2025
    The Best Home Remedies for Migraines
    June 5, 2025
    The Hidden Impact Of Stress On Your Body’s Alignment And Balance
    May 22, 2025
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    Cash Transfers: Good for HIV/AIDS Too
    August 9, 2012
    unnecessary medical tests
    Eagerly Awaiting the Death of Defensive Medicine
    September 5, 2013
    Image
    Mobile Health Around the Globe – mHealth Fighting Malnutrition in India
    December 17, 2012
    Latest News
    Let Your Lawyer Handle the Work Before You Pay Medical Costs
    July 6, 2025
    Top HIPAA-Compliant Messaging Apps for Healthcare Teams
    June 25, 2025
    When Healthcare Ends, the Legal Process Begins: What Families Should Know About Probate and Medical Estates
    June 20, 2025
    Preventing Contamination In Healthcare Facilities Starts With Hygiene
    June 15, 2025
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Making a 5% Commitment to Medicaid
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Business > Finance > Making a 5% Commitment to Medicaid
BusinessFinanceHealth ReformHospital AdministrationMedical EthicsPolicy & LawPublic Health

Making a 5% Commitment to Medicaid

psalber
psalber
Share
4 Min Read
medicaid
SHARE

Larry Casalino, MD, PhD, a well-known health services researcher at Weill Cornell Medical College, has written a Perspective for the November 7, 2013 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine (Professionalism and Caring for Medicaid Patients – The 5% Commitment?”). This commentary is sure to make some docs mad.  But I thought he wrote it in a “fair and balanced way.”

Larry Casalino, MD, PhD, a well-known health services researcher at Weill Cornell Medical College, has written a Perspective for the November 7, 2013 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine (Professionalism and Caring for Medicaid Patients – The 5% Commitment?”). This commentary is sure to make some docs mad.  But I thought he wrote it in a “fair and balanced way.”

He points out that more than one fifth of the US population is insured via Medicaid – a number that will expand greatly when the ACA is fully implemented. But 30% of office-based physicians do not accept new Medicaid patients.  In fact, he points out that the higher paid specialities and physicians in higher-income areas are even less likely to accept Medicaid patients.

Yes, it is true that Medicaid reimbursement rates are dismally low.  Larry points out that his practice lost money on most MediCal (California’s version of Medicaid) patients.  And these patients were complicated and often required more time than non-Medicaid patients because of behavioral health problems and transportation and social services needs.

More Read

Using Information Therapy to Put Patients First
Senseless Rules
Explaining Our Debt Problem
Reasons to Reform Medicaid
Patient Engagement Explored at the ePharma Summit

But many of the physicians that refuse to accept Medicaid are handsomely reimbursed:

  • According to the Medscape Compensation Report, the mean income of Orthopedic Surgeons in 2012 was >$400,000, but 40% of orthopedic practices do not accept new Medicaid patients
  • Dermtaologists mean income was >$300,000 yet 45% of them do not accept new Medicaid patients
  • Despite a high prevalence of mental health disorders amongst Medicaid recipients, 56% of psychiatrists do not accept them – their mean income by the way is only $186,000
medicaid

Larry Casalino, MD, PhD, Weill Cornell Medical College

Larry makes the argument that medical professionalism – a commitment to putting patients’ interests first – should lead to a consideration of caring for a “reasonable number” of Medicaid patients – he suggests 5%.  That, he says, translates into office based physicians seeing approximately one Medicaid patient per day.  For surgeons, it means operating on one Medicaid patient every 1-2 weeks.

He points out that spreading the care of Medicaid patients across a larger number of physicians would be a “service to a physician’s colleagues as well as to patients.”  ERs could decompress and referrals to specialists would be easier to arrange.

I know there are legitimate and, in some cases, compelling counter arguments.  Some docs have huge medical school loans to pay off, others are in relatively low-paying specialities.  But the question remains.  What should be the commitment of medical professionals, relatively privileged in our society compared to others, to ensure that the most vulnerable amongst us has access to timely care in reasonable settings (e.g., office vs ER)?  It is a question we had better grapple with as millions more people become insured via the Medicaid program.

Leave me your comments, suggestions.  How can we carry on this conversation?

TAGGED:Medicaid
Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

9 Lifestyle Tweaks That Can Add Years to Your Life
9 Healthcare Lifestyle Tweaks That can Add Years to Your Life
lifestyle
July 11, 2025
car accident lawsuit
Let Your Lawyer Handle the Work Before You Pay Medical Costs
Policy & Law
July 6, 2025
women dental care
What Is a Smile Makeover and How Much Does It Cost?
Dental health
June 30, 2025
HIPAA-Compliant Messaging Apps
Top HIPAA-Compliant Messaging Apps for Healthcare Teams
Global Healthcare Policy & Law Technology
June 25, 2025

You Might also Like

Ladies and Gentlemen, the Final Accountable Care Organization Regulations!

October 20, 2011
water sports
Health careMental HealthUncategorized

Positive Effects of Water Sports On Your Body And Mind

May 1, 2021

Reducing Surgical Complications – The Checklist

April 25, 2011

Suffering in Silence: When Doctors Fail to Ask The Right Questions

February 26, 2013
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?