Opinion

Medicaid capitation fails patients

LETTER — Posted Nov. 6, 2006

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Regarding "Georgia doctors take on Medicaid HMOs over slow pay" (Article, Sept. 11): It is interesting that Georgia doctors are feeling they are getting slow pay. I am not concerned about the slow pay as much as I am the slow care. I have had patients come in on Medicaid (I don't take Medicaid) that have documented cartilage tears on MRI that the gatekeepers who are getting some sort of capitation agreements are not allowing to get surgery. I take care of these kids through my own private foundation and get their operations done. Basically the state governments are handing off and washing their hands of this situation by paying capitated amounts. I really don't think they could care less if anything is getting done or not.

Peter F. Holmes, MD, San Antonio

Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2006/11/06/edlt1106.htm.

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