New Jersey More Than Triples Medicaid Reimbursement Rate For Physicians Who Treat Children

Main Category: Medicare / Medicaid / SCHIP
Also Included In: Pediatrics / Children's Health;  Primary Care / General Practice
Article Date: 07 Jan 2008 - 9:00 PST

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New Jersey on Tuesday more than tripled Medicaid reimbursements for physicians who treat beneficiaries younger than age 21, the AP/Long Island Newsday reports. Medicaid physician reimbursements for a child's office visit increased from $23.03 to $73.70, and dentist reimbursements increased from $18.02 per child's exam to $64.

Gov. Jon Corzine (D) last summer set aside $10 million in state funds to pay for the increases, and the state will receive an additional $10 million in matching federal funds. State Human Services Commissioner Jennifer Velez in a statement said that the rate increases are a "big step toward providing more access for our clients," adding, "These new rates will benefit existing Medicaid providers" and attract new providers.

An April 2007 study by Public Citizen's Health Research Group found that New Jersey provided the lowest Medicaid reimbursements of all the states, although the analysis included adult and child services. State Department of Human Service spokesperson Suzanne Esterman said, "Hopefully, this will place New Jersey in a much higher standing than we have been" (Johnson, AP/Long Island Newsday, 1/2).

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