Republicans Trying To Ruin Medicaid

Published: September 5, 2007, 1:01 am

Tags: medicaid, doctors, republicans

The only chance the poor have for medical coverage, especially poor children, is Medicaid. But more and more doctors are refusing to take new Medicaid patients. According to a survey by the Texas Medical Association, nearly two-thirds of all doctors now refuse to take Medicaid patients.Just a few years ago, in 2000, 67% of doctors were willing to take Medicaid patients. By 2002, the number had fallen to 49%, and in 2004, it went down to 45%. In 2006, the number slid again to 38%.Why is this happening? Are doctors just being mean to poor people, especially poor children? Not at all. The doctors just cannot afford to take these patients, because the government pays so little for their care.Ever since Bush came to power in 2000, the Republicans have been trying to destroy the Medicaid program. Through a series of cuts and freezes in payments, they have fixed it so many doctors can no longer afford to treat Medicaid patients.They can afford billions in corporate welfare and tax cuts for

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