News & Media
STATEMENT: Michigan State Medical Society Applauds Lawmakers for Funding Medicaid Uplift
Boost to reimbursement rates will expand access to essential services, improve patient health
The following is a public statement from Thomas Veverka, MD, FACS, president of the Michigan State Medical Society, in response to state lawmakers agreeing to a budget funding an increase in Medicaid reimbursement for certain adult and pediatric primary care services.
“It’s wonderful when our lawmakers recognize problems and then work together to implement solutions, and that’s exactly what happened today with the announcement that a Medicaid uplift would be funded in this year’s general fund budget.
“On behalf of our member physicians across the state, I’d like to praise Governor Whitmer, Senate Leadership, and our state’s lawmakers for not only recognizing the problems Medicaid’s low reimbursement presents to Michigan’s patients and providers, but then working together to find and fund a solution. This now approved Medicaid uplift will expand access to care, supports primary care and physician practice sustainability, and most importantly, improve patient health, and all of that is worth celebrating.
“Now more than ever, patients need timely access to primary care, and today’s announcement that Medicaid reimbursement rates will be receiving a much-needed increase will go a long way towards ensuring that Michigan’s patients can access the care they need when they need it from the physicians they trust.”