Lamnidae

Sen. Baucus’ steadfast fight to reverse the 10.6 percent cut to the federal Medicaid reimbursement rate is exactly the reason why he’s currently the 10th longest serving member of the Senate. In an aging state like Montana, where health care shortages can sometimes be the rule rather than the exception, we simply can’t afford to put more primary care physicians out of business with this reimbursement cut.

It would seem that an issue like this (particularly in an election year) would be a no-brainer for both parties… This however, has not been the case as the legislation funds the doctor’s fees with cuts to Medicare Advantage–a program that essentially allows private insurers to skim a cut of the taxpayer money that passes between Medicaid recipient and health care provider. One can only hope that voters will take note of the fact that the GOP is working to send grandma to the grave in the name of corporate profits.

Many practices already limit the number of Medicaid patients they’ll receive due to the low reimbursement rate they receive compared to traditional customers. This rate change will only serve to make health care access more difficult for those who need it most. Another nasty side effect would be a likely cut to reimbursement rates that private insurers give physicians, as they use Medicaid as a benchmark.

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