Are More And More Care Providers Refusing To Accept Medicaid?

Despite being a prevalent and pervasive form of insurance, many people insured by Medicaid are finding it increasingly difficult to find healthcare providers. Many private practices are refusing this form of government insurance. There are many reasons for this, and a few possible solutions.

Why More Care Providers are Refusing Medicaid

Government insurance was never popular among private practices. But since the Medicaid expansion started in 2014, the number of doctors and facilities that accept Medicaid has lowered.

Medicaid expansion – As a part of the Affordable Care Act, the federal government would agree to give extra funding for Medicaid to those states that expanded their Medicaid coverage. Since the act passed, not all states have expanded their Medicaid coverage. Additionally, some states will only expand it at a future date.

This expansion would potentially offer insurance to many more people who cannot otherwise afford health insurance, or who are not old enough to receive Medicare benefits. For many care providers, this expansion also means far more Medicaid patients than they would like to handle.

Understand that doctors never were under any mandate to accept Medicaid patients. So it was already quite the ordeal for many people in various areas of the country to find the help they needed. In general, some practices avoid government insurance patients for the following reasons.

Low reimbursement – The government only pays out a percentage for the care provided. In addition, it doesn't pay out as much as what it pays for Medicare patients.

Paperwork – The government requires care providers to fill out a tremendous amount of paperwork.

Reimbursement wait times – Many doctors feel the government takes an inordinate amount of time to reimburse them for services.

Strict guidelines for care – The government has trouble reimbursing care providers if those providers do not follow strict government guidelines in their treatments.

In essence, care providers are balking at the prospect of taking on far more work for far less pay. There are other factors as well, but these four represent some of the main points.

What You Can Do About it

There's really not much you can do if the doctor you want doesn't accept Medicaid. There are many services out there dedicated to helping you find care. Some doctors will accept Medicaid on a case-by-case basis if they didn't opt out of the program completely. There are a few more things you can try.

Ask the doctor for a referral – Doctors know other doctors, and it's possible the doctor you want can get you in touch with a provider that readily accepts Medicaid.

Go to a clinic – Clinics of all types are the last bastion of hope for many Medicaid users in certain areas of the country.

These places have long accepted Medicaid for the most part. Many clinics are standalone facilities and not a part of any larger hospital network. They're usually local, and very much a part of that local community. They represent a good place to start if you're looking for a care provider that accepts Medicaid. If you're looking for a family clinic, check out one like Entira Family Clinics, and ask if they accept Medicaid.

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