Changing Medicaid Physician Fees: Effects on Access and Total Cost

How do increases and decreases in Medicaid physician payment affect physicians, patients and total program costs? This study was designed to compare the effects of two sets of physician fee changes -- in Maine and Michigan -- on physician participation rates, recipients' access to health care and Medicaid expenditures. The results of this study enhanced the information available to policymakers on the possible magnitude of short-term responses to proposed changes in Medicaid fees in their states.