Regarding "Doctors bicker with Perdue" (Aug. 22 news article), the state budget authorized cuts in Medicaid provider reimbursement if Congress did not provide $512 million in federal funds. Our congressional Democrats provided $343 million in additional Medicaid money and $300 million in unanticipated education funding to help states prevent Medicaid and education cuts. No Medicaid provider can understand the governor's decision to cut rates despite the funding.
There is a misconception that physicians get rich treating Medicaid patients. They do not. Neither do hospitals. Nor do nursing homes. Medicaid pays less than it costs to care for Medicaid patients. Despite those losses, the state cut Medicaid provider payments by almost $700 million over the past two years.
Nobody wants budget cuts for essential services. Congress certainly does not. It is indefensible when a child dies or suffers because his mother cannot find a doctor for him. For the last 18 months, Gov. Beverly Perdue and the legislature have used additional federal Medicaid funding to shore up education. Now Congress has provided more critical funding. We ask Perdue and our legislators to ensure that $26 million of the funding received is used for its intended purposes - to ensure access to care for Medicaid patients.
