Millions more eligible under Medicaid, but state rates vary

If you're a Pennsylvanian who is newly enrolled in the state's Medicaid health-insurance program for the poor, only 2 out of 3 physicians in the state are willing to see you, new research shows. Those odds are almost exactly in the middle of the pack—a better chance than you'll find in the nation's most populous states, such as New Jersey, but far worse than rural states in the heartland where almost all physicians accept new Medicaid patients. Medicaid has low reimbursement levels compared with private insurance and the federal Medicare program, which covers seniors and the disabled. This means that doctors don't get paid as much for providing services to Medicaid patients.