15 States Will Continue Medicaid Payment Parity

Higher Medicaid payment rates will continue in 15 states, according to survey data released by the Kaiser Family Foundation. The higher rates, known as the primary care bump, were established by Section 1202 of the Affordable Care Act, which requires state Medicaid programs to reimburse family, internal medicine, and pediatric physicians at rates at least equal to what Medicare would pay for primary care services. The provision went into effect in 2013 and expires at the end of 2014. The survey data also showed that 22 states will not continue to pay higher Medicaid rates, and 14 states are undecided.