States will receive an $11 billion boost for primary-care physicians in their Medicaid programs over the next two years, under a new proposed rule. The temporary increase in 2013 and 2014 is mandated by a provision of the 2010 federal healthcare overhaul and aims to bring Medicaid primary-care payments in line with the level provided by Medicare. The provision, released Wednesday, would increase average Medicaid primary care payments by 34%, according to one estimate cited by CMS.
“Promoting high-quality primary-care is a pillar of the Affordable Care Act, and this proposed rule helps States and physicians provide every American, no matter where they live, access to the care they need to stay healthy,” HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said in a news release. “This new rule can help improve health and reduce costs by preventing illnesses before they happen and catching small problems before they turn into big ones.”
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