The
state budget is the VSO's number one advocacy priority. As reported earlier, both the House
and Senate have recommended cuts to physician Medicaid payments. Over the next few days, the budget
conferees are deliberating over their spending priorities, and
physician cuts are on the table.
The
House has proposed a 5 % cut to all physicians payments beginning in
July 2010. The Senate has proposed a 4 % cut to physician payments
and a 4 % cut to Medicaid managed care plans beginning in July
2011.
The
House and Senate have appointed Budget Conferees who will finish
meeting in the next few days to reconcile the differences in the
House and Senate budgets. Click here for
their contact information and you may use the talking points provided
below.
Talking
Points on Medicaid:
·
Cuts to Medicaid significantly impede access to
specialty care for children, who make up over 70% of Medicaid
enrollees.
·
The Medical Society of Virginia survey data shows
that a 5-10% cut in reimbursement would result in 75% of physicians
limiting or eliminating Medicaid in their practice.
· The survey also shows that a 1-5% cut in
reimbursement would result in 64% of physicians limiting or
eliminating Medicaid in their practice.
·
Cuts to Medicaid managed care plans are passed
along to physicians; in reality physicians are facing a double cut.
·
Any increase in the Federal matching payments for
Medicaid should be used to restore physician cuts NOT other areas of
the budget (such as education or state employees)!
