Trends In Medicaid Physician Fees, 2003–2008

Health AffairsPublished 1 January 2009

Stephen Zuckerman, Aimee F. Williams, Karen Stockley

DOI10.1377/hlthaff.28.3.w510

Source URL

Citations141

SJR quartileQ1

SJR score4.46

SNIP3.04

TL;DR

Medicaid physician fees increased 15.1 percent, on average, between 2003 and 2008, but the increase in Medicaid fees relative to Medicare fees resulted from relative increases for primary care and obstetrical services, but not for other services.

Abstract

Medicaid physician fees increased 15.1 percent, on average, between 2003 and 2008. This was below the general rate of inflation, resulting in a reduction in real fees. Only primary care fees grew at the rate of inflation-20 percent between 2003 and 2008. However, because of slow growth in Medicare fees, Medicaid fees closed a small portion of their ongoing gap relative to Medicare-growing from 69 percent to 72 percent of Medicare. The increase in Medicaid fees relative to Medicare fees resulted from relative increases for primary care and obstetrical services, but not for other services.

Keywords

Economics, Econometrics and FinanceHealth Professions

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