Submitted by Murray Orbuch, MD, Dec 10, 2007 16:09

No one disputes the good that doctors do for indigent patients, the teaching & learning opportunities or the satisfaction. It is, however, sheer exploitation by the government. NY State knows full well that when they underpay physicians, it's done for a reason. With the average reimbursement for a follow-up patient visit under Medicaid at $6.50 (yes, that's $6.50, the cost of a latte and a croissant at Starbuck's) they know that many doctors will provide the care and not bill Medicaid because the mere act of filing will cost the physician between $2-3. So the State reaps the windfall of free care, to the tune of several billion dollars a year. Yes Virginia, there is a Santa Claus and it's the physician-saps who never complain. When physicians like Dr Peters are taken for a ride by the State, the poor are the ones who suffer for discontinuous care and the government goes on its merry way, robbing Peter to pay Paul.

Note: Comments are screened, and in some cases edited, before posting. We reserve the right to reject anything we find objectionable.