To help keep doctors’ offices, nursing homes and hospitals open during the coronavirus outbreak, Texas officials are recommending the state increase payments to health providers to the tune of $334 million.
State health officials want approval from Gov. Greg Abbott and a panel of state lawmakers on the Legislative Budget Board to pay more to health providers from Medicaid, the state-federal insurance program that covers about 3.8 million low-income children, pregnant women and people with disabilities. Texas Medicaid has traditionally paid health workers at a stingier rate than private insurance or Medicare, the federal health insurer for the elderly.
Medicare provided a stimulus for physicians To the tune of $30 billion on April 10. HHS in conjunction with the states have to do something similar for Medicaid providers who have had to shut down their offices due to state mandates. This includes dentists.