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. Primary care access
4. Op-ed: More coverage requires more doctors
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