Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

Nevada makes up difference in Medicaid payments to doctors under Obamacare

CARSON CITY — Nevada’s primary care physicians are safe, at least for the time beings, from a 38 percent cut in fees collected for treating Medicaid patients.

Under the Affordable Care Act, federal payments in Nevada were reduced an average of 38 percent, effective Wednesday.

But Gov. Brian Sandoval and the 2013 Legislature, foreseeing the problem, put enough state money in the budget to make up the difference and continue payments at the current level until at least June 30.

Sandoval’s chief of staff, Mike Willden, said an extra $4.5 million was included in the state budget to keep reimbursements at a steady level.

There are 1,344 primary physicians treating Medicaid patients in Nevada.

Asked if the governor has included money to cover the Medicaid shortfall in his budget for the next two years, Willden said he could not discuss it until Sandoval released the budget on Jan. 15.

Stacy Woodbury, executive director of the 2,000-member Nevada State Medical Association, said she has made the Sandoval administration aware of possible pay reductions beyond June 30.

According to a report by Kaiser Health News, five states have put up money to maintain Medicaid payment levels. The group said federal payments vary among states, and some would experience up to 50 percent reductions in the payments to primary physicians.

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