Since Medicaid coverage will expand significantly under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act starting in 2014, states may find it challenging to find primary care for the future Medicaid population due to a shortage of primary care physicians, according to an article published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Researchers analyzed the potential gaps between demand and capacity for primary care. Results showed that eight states — Oklahoma, Georgia, Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Nevada, North Carolina and Kentucky — will face the greatest challenges based on projections of Medicaid expansions and weak primary care capacities. Without significant efforts to address this problem, the new population of insured Medicaid patients "could outstrip the supply of primary care providers in these states," the article says.
Read the article about Medicaid patients and primary care.
Read other coverage about Medicaid patients:
- HHS Allocates $4B to Move Medicaid Patients From Healthcare Facilities to Their Homes
- Medicaid, Uninsured Admissions Outpaced Private-Pay Admissions 1997-2008
Researchers analyzed the potential gaps between demand and capacity for primary care. Results showed that eight states — Oklahoma, Georgia, Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Nevada, North Carolina and Kentucky — will face the greatest challenges based on projections of Medicaid expansions and weak primary care capacities. Without significant efforts to address this problem, the new population of insured Medicaid patients "could outstrip the supply of primary care providers in these states," the article says.
Read the article about Medicaid patients and primary care.
Read other coverage about Medicaid patients:
- HHS Allocates $4B to Move Medicaid Patients From Healthcare Facilities to Their Homes
- Medicaid, Uninsured Admissions Outpaced Private-Pay Admissions 1997-2008