Medicaid Reimbursement Rates Go UP!

This post is from guest-blogger, Lisa Johnson. Lisa has been working in our Medical Clinic as the Clinic Administrator for over a decade.

As of May 1st, Medicaid reimbursement rates have increased! Thank you to the Department of Health Care Finance for approving this increase and thank you to the DCPCA and all who have tirelessly advocated for the long-overdue, much-needed raise.

What am I talking about? Well, for years DC safety net providers have been frustrated by low reimbursement rates for seeing Medicaid and Alliance patients. On average, Bread for the City was reimbursed only about $35 per visit for Medicaid patients--however, an average medical visit costs us over $100. Big discrepancy!

However, as of May 1st, the Medicaid Managed Care rates in the District have increased to match the Medicare rates--this means they nearly doubled. Coupled with a matching increase for Medicaid Fee-For-Service patients effective 4/1/09 and a recent Alliance rate increase to $95 per patient, the Department of Health Care Finance is working hard to attract more providers to serve Medicaid and Alliance patients....and goodness knows, we need them!

While this new reimbursement still does not fully cover our costs, we are very grateful for the increase. Thanks, DHCF, for taking steps to more accurately reimburse providers for the care provided!