Dems introduce bill to defray Medicare costs for underserved

March 30, 2010

The bill would grant state money to doctors' offices in parts of Alaska where the Medicare reimbursement rate is too low. (File/KTUU-DT)

by Ted Land
Monday, March 29, 2010

JUNEAU, Alaska -- Democrats in the state Legislature are working on a bill to help pay the Medicare costs of underserved Alaskans.

The bill would grant state money to doctors' offices in parts of Alaska where the Medicare reimbursement rate is too low.

The sponsors say there are underserved areas where doctors are turning Medicare patients away because they're not getting enough money in return from the federal government.

Under the Democrats' proposal, state money would make up the difference. A system like this was not allowed under federal law until the recent healthcare reform.

U.S. Sen. Mark Begich, working along with state Democrats, was successful in reversing the policy.

"It's now clear that we can do what we want to do, so we're writing it in a way that it allows us to go in and help these medically underserved populations," said Rep. Lindsey Holmes, D-Anchorage.

Alaska, Juneau, Legislature, Medicare, state, money, reimbursement rate, underserved population

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