Physician Acceptance of New Medicaid Patients: New Findings

In order for Medicaid to provide access to services in a timely manner, sufficient numbers of providers must be available to serve Medicaid beneficiaries. Provider availability is influenced by the supply and distribution of providers within a community as well as state policies regarding payment levels, scope of practice, and managed care penetration, among others. But it is also influenced by providers’ responses to those policies. This presentation analyzes the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey to look at the factors affecting physician decisions to accept new Medicaid patients.