Texas Settlement Would Boost Medicaid Payments To Physicians, Dentists Who Treat Children

Main Category: Medicare / Medicaid / SCHIP
Also Included In: Primary Care / General Practice;  Dentistry;  Pediatrics / Children's Health
Article Date: 13 Apr 2007 - 5:00 PDT

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Texas would increase Medicaid reimbursements by 25% for physicians and by 50% for dentists who treat children under a lawsuit settlement presented to a federal judge on Monday, the Austin American-Statesman reports (Embry, Austin American-Statesman, 4/10). The settlement involves a class-action lawsuit filed in 1993 on behalf of Texas families who alleged that the state had violated Medicaid rules (Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, 10/8/03). The settlement is intended to encourage more providers to accept new Medicaid beneficiaries as part of an effort to ensure children are receiving regular medical and dental checkups. Under the preliminary agreement, which affects 1.8 million children covered by Medicaid, the state would bring more providers to underserved areas and improve a toll-free hot line that answers parents' questions about obtaining coverage for their children. The state also agreed to hire additional case workers to help parents navigate the state health care system. In addition, the state agreed to determine whether children are receiving incomplete checkups and whether corrective action should be taken when managed care companies do not provide comprehensive checkups. U.S. District Court Judge William Wayne Justice indicated that he would require the state to notify affected families of the settlement (Garrett, Dallas Morning News, 4/10). State House Appropriations Committee Chair Warren Chisum (R) said the settlement would cost the state about $700 million over the next two years (Austin American-Statesman, 4/10). If the settlement is approved, the changes would take effect Sept. 1. Lawyers must submit a final draft of the settlement by April 27 (Dallas Morning News, 4/10).

"Reprinted with permission from http://www.kaisernetwork.org. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery at http://www.kaisernetwork.org/dailyreports/healthpolicy. The Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report is published for kaisernetwork.org, a free service of The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation . © 2005 Advisory Board Company and Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.

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