Medicaid

21 January 2010
The House of Delegates Rules Studies subcommittee favorably reported HJR 127, which directs the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission to study Virginia's Medicaid program and identify opportunities to reduce waste, inefficiency, fraud and abuse.  The measure will be heard by the full Rules Committee next week.  Examining the Medicaid program for waste, fraud and abuse is a top health care-related priority for Gov. Bob McDonnell.  MSV supports this study resolution.

MSV Position

• Virginia is forecasting a revenue shortfall of $1.5 billion for 2010 following two tough years for providers when cuts to Medicaid were only narrowly avoided. Currently, physicians treating Medicaid recipients are reimbursed well below their cost of providing care.
• Virginia’s most vulnerable citizens, including children, the elderly, expectant mothers and the disabled, rely on Medicaid for the primary care they need. Virginia ranks 48th nationally in Medicaid expenditures per capita.
• According to a survey of physicians conducted by MSV in 2009, as little as a 3 percent cut in Medicaid reimbursement would have a disastrous effect on the accessibility of physician care to a growing number of uninsured Virginians.
• Although the Commonwealth has made efforts to increase physician Medicaid rates in specific areas of service, there has never been an effort to develop a long-term solution.

Medicaid 2010 Backgrounder

Medicaid 2010 Backgrounder - Proposed Medicaid cuts will threaten physician network in Virginia

Medicaid 2010 Backgrounder - Virginia Medicaid - Physicians reimbursed less than the cost of care