Back in May, CMS reported that under the health care reform, primary care physicians would see an increase in Medicaid reimbursement rates. Kaiser News reports that OB/GYNs and ER doctors presently are excluded.
Instead, the higher Medicaid rates, which will be in effect for two years, are reserved for family doctors, internists and pediatricians, because those specialties are specifically listed in the 2010 law, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services said. The OB/GYNs and ER doctors sought to be included after regulators released preliminary rules in May saying that internal medicine and pediatric sub-specialists, such as pediatric cardiologists, would be eligible for the higher pay when providing primary care.
…
The final regulation removed a requirement for states to verify that doctors are board certified in family medicine, internal medicine or pediatrics before making the bonus payments. Instead, doctors will only have to “self-attest” that they are in one of the eligible specialties to get the higher pay.
Primary care physicians will see a boost in Medicare payment rates as well. In related news, the fate of the health care reform law, including new payment rates, depends on the outcome of today’s election. If the president is re-elected, the law will continue. Challenger Mitt Romney said he’d repeal the law and replace it with something he believes will work better.
