Coverage without access

I have written recently that universal coverage without physician access isn’t worth the paper it’s written on. Don’t believe me? Take a look at what’s happening with the Medicaid population:

Sure, Medicaid provides patients with a “card” entitling them to care. But Medicaid also creates financial disincentives for physicians to provide the care. New York pays doctors $17 per ED visit for Medicaid patients? Our 14-year-old babysitter makes more than that! Then Medicaid leaves it up to the patients to fend for themselves.

Related posts:

1. Universal coverage without primary care access is useless
2. Improve primary care access before guaranteeing universal health coverage, my address at the National Press Club
3. Op-ed: More coverage requires more doctors
4. Primary care access
5. Myth: "Universal coverage means better care"
6. Expanding coverage without access
7. Universal coverage is useless without physician access

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Tagged as: health reform, patient