Chicago kids’ doctors call for boost in Medicaid reimbursement

Chicago Tribune, March 10, 2008

Several Chicago pediatric physicians are urging Illinois to increase Medicaid reimbursement rates for pediatric specialists, warning that a failure to do so may lead to shortages of endocrinologists, cardiologists and other specialists. At issue is the amount of reimbursement pediatric specialists get from state and federal funds after treating a child insured under Medicaid or Illinois' All Kids program, which uses Medicaid funds. Currently, Illinois specialists are repaid just 33 cents for every dollar they spend on such patients, one of the lowest reimbursement rates in the country.