Government
Medicaid recipients hit harder by out-of-pocket spending increases
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted June 20, 2005
While out-of-pocket health spending is growing in general, it is rising faster for Medicaid recipients than for patients with private health insurance, according to a new report from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. Such expenses rose, on average, 9.7% a year between 1997 and 2002 for Medicaid patients, compared with 6% for the privately insured, the study shows.
The increase in cash spending by Medicaid enrollees is the result of states implementing co-payments and benefit reductions that mean the patients have to pay for more services themselves.
"When Medicaid imposes cost-sharing, people with disabilities and those with chronic health problems tend to bear the highest burdens," the authors concluded.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2005/06/20/gvbf0620.htm.
