Government
Medicaid access to specialists is low
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted June 21, 2004
Getting an appointment with a specialist can be hard for Medicaid patients, according to a recent survey by Merritt, Hawkins & Associates.
The survey of 1,062 physicians' offices in 15 metropolitan areas found that 50% of cardiologists' and 60% of obstetrician-gynecologists' practices accept Medicaid patients, and 43% of dermatologists and 44% of orthopedists take these patients.
But there was wide variation both across and within the cities. For example, all of the specialists called in Portland, Ore., accepted Medicaid, whereas only a handful in New York said they would accept it.
The survey also showed privately insured patients can experience long waits for specialist appointments.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2004/06/21/gvbf0621.htm.
