Most physicians support Medicaid work requirements

Almost 75% of physicians support the new federal policy that permits states to attach work requirements to Medicaid participation, according to a survey by physician recruitment firm Merritt Hawkins.

“Many physicians have been frustrated for years because Medicaid often pays less than their costs of providing care. Physicians have to limit the number of Medicaid patients they treat for that reason and want to focus on those who need care the most,” Travis Singleton, executive vice president of Merritt Hawkins, said in a statement.

Kentucky, Indiana, and Arkansas currently are in the process of putting the work requirements into place. Kentucky’s policy will require able-bodied Medicaid applicants aged 19-64 years to do 80 hours of community engagement a month by working, going to school, training for a job, or volunteering, the company said.

rfranki@mdedge.com