Medicaid payments to doctors going up next month

Starting next month, Michigan will be increasing the amount of money it pays doctors who treat Medicaid patients but only for a very limited range of primary care services. A bigger change comes in 2013 and 2014, under the Affordable Care Act. For two years, doctors will be reimbursed for Medicaid at the same rate as Medicare. Historically, Medicaid payments have been low when compared with private insurance and Medicare, which covers seniors and the disabled. "The number of patients in Michigan who are covered by Medicaid has gone up, it's at the highest level it's ever been yet simultaneously we're having a hard time finding access for these patients to care," primary care physician, Dr. Peter Graham, with Sparrow Hospital said.