The Medicaid Pay Parity program was a provision outlined within the Affordable Care Act that increased Medicaid provider reimbursement to match that of Medicare providers. This provision expired on December 31, 2014 and was not extended nationally. However, some states are choosing to continue Medicaid pay parity.
7 States chose to extend Medicaid pay parity: Alabama, Colorado, Iowa, Maryland, Mississippi, and New Mexico. In addition, Alaska is paying doctors even more than the Medicare rate.
8 states chose to increase Medicaid reimbursement, but not to the full Medicare rate: Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, Michigan, Nebraska, Nevada, and South Carolina
In addition to these state legislative action, federal legislative action was taken in the form of the Medicaid Parity Act of 2015 (H.R.1502). This bill was introduced by Representative John Lewis on March 19, 2015 and was referred to the Subcommittee on Health on March 20, 2015. This bill seeks to amend title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to extend through 2019.
Another bill, the Ensuring Access to Primary Care for Women and Children Act, (H.R.2253), was introduced by Representative Kathy Castor in the House of Representatives on May 12, 2015. It was referred to the Subcommittee on Health on May 15, 2015. This bill seeks to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to extend the application of the Medicare payment rate floor to primary care services furnished under Medicaid and to apply the rate floor to additional providers of primary care services.
Title | Source | Date |
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CMS Seeks Comment on PCMH, Care Coordination, ACOs | Health IT Analytics | February 20, 2015 |
Public health advocates blast LePage plan to redirect tobacco settlement money | Portland Press Herald | March 3, 2015 |
A steady doctor for babies to call their own | M Live | March 5, 2015 |
Health Home expansion to help patients with chronic health conditions | Alabama Medicaid Agency | March 6, 2015 |
Republican Lawmakers Sink Montana Governor’s Medicaid Expansion Plan | Kaiser Health News | March 11, 2015 |
Primary care doctors facing new cuts in reimbursements | Capital New York | March 19, 2015 |
Medicaid managed care provding more specialists, more success | The Augusta Chronicle | March 31, 2015 |
State Medicaid Programs Drive PCMH Initiatives Forward | AAFP News | April 4, 2015 |
Medicaid expansion passes Montana Legislature | Modern Healthcare | April 18, 2015 |
Future of dual eligible demonstrations questioned due to low enrollment | Modern Healthcare | April 21, 2015 |