Government
Medicaid payment increases on track in Nevada, Hawaii
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted June 25, 2007
Physicians in Hawaii and Nevada will receive higher Medicaid reimbursements if their governors sign bills passed by their state legislatures. Last month Nevada lawmakers approved $17.2 million for the state budget to increase physician payment for 60% of Medicaid codes. The increase, to take effect in August 2008, would bring physician pay to 90% of today's Medicare levels, instead of the current 85% of 2002 Medicare rates for those codes, said Charles Duarte, administrator for Nevada's Medicaid program and State Children's Health Insurance Program.
Nevada Gov. Jim Gibbons proposed increasing state Medicaid rates to 100% of Medicare earlier this year.
Also last month, the Hawaii Legislature approved an $8 million increase for Medicaid physician payments effective July 1. The bill calls for the state Medicaid agency to estimate how much more money, if any, would be needed to increase Medicaid rates to match Medicare rates.
The Hawaii Medical Assn. was still calculating the potential impact of the increase, said Paula Arcena, HMA executive director. As of press time, Hawaii Gov. Linda Lingle had not decided if she would sign the measure, a spokesman said.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2007/06/25/gvbf0625.htm.
