Differential responses among primary care physicians to varying medicaid fees

Abstract

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) provided for significant increases in Medicaid fees for primary care services-up to 100 percent of Medicare fees for 2013 and 2014-to encourage increased Medicaid participation among primary care physicians (PCPs). In this study, I use non-linear multivariate regression techniques and data from nationally representative physician surveys and periodic Medicaid fee surveys to investigate heterogeneity in the effects of such increases. I find that the PCPs more responsive to Medicaid fee changes are those who see fewer Medicaid patients typically. I also estimate effects associated with Medicaid fee increases comparable with the ACA's fee changes. © The Author(s) 2014.