'Ultimately, it turns into a more expensive way to give worse care to children'

The Alabama Medicaid Agency is cutting enhanced reimbursement payments next month, which could cost some pediatricians and family doctors 30 to 40 percent of their bottom line.The state made the announcement this week after the general fund budget that passed in the spring came up $87 million short of what Gov. Robert Bentley said was needed to fund the Medicaid program.That includes the reimbursement for a 25-minute doctor’s office visit dropping from $101 to $67 and a 30-minute hospital visit from $100 to $57.Dr. Kenneth Elmer, who has served the children of west Birmingham as a pediatrician for 30 years, said a large percentage of his patients are on Medicaid."What happens when you cut the primary care payment down below the operating costs in the office, then you start out letting staff go, but ultimately you decide, 'I am going to retire,'" he said.He believes that if additional Medicaid funding is not found, many pediatricians around the state will be forced to close up shop."Ultimately, all these kids ... instead of having a medical home, they wind up in the ER or in an urgent care center for things that have been left unattended for a long time, because they could not find a doctor to go to," Elmer said. "So ultimately, it turns into a more expensive way to give worse care to children."The Medicaid cuts go into effect on Aug. 1.

The Alabama Medicaid Agency is cutting enhanced reimbursement payments next month, which could cost some pediatricians and family doctors 30 to 40 percent of their bottom line.

The state made the announcement this week after the general fund budget that passed in the spring came up $87 million short of what Gov. Robert Bentley said was needed to fund the Medicaid program.


That includes the reimbursement for a 25-minute doctor’s office visit dropping from $101 to $67 and a 30-minute hospital visit from $100 to $57.

Dr. Kenneth Elmer, who has served the children of west Birmingham as a pediatrician for 30 years, said a large percentage of his patients are on Medicaid.

"What happens when you cut the primary care payment down below the operating costs in the office, then you start out letting staff go, but ultimately you decide, 'I am going to retire,'" he said.

He believes that if additional Medicaid funding is not found, many pediatricians around the state will be forced to close up shop.

"Ultimately, all these kids ... instead of having a medical home, they wind up in the ER or in an urgent care center for things that have been left unattended for a long time, because they could not find a doctor to go to," Elmer said. "So ultimately, it turns into a more expensive way to give worse care to children."

The Medicaid cuts go into effect on Aug. 1.