As California Pays Their Student Loans, Doctors Agree to Treat Poorer Patients
By CalMatters
Published 5 years ago on
July 3, 2019
Share
It’s a trade aimed at getting more doctors to treat poorer patients: California this week said it will help repay the student loans of 247 selected doctors in exchange for their promise that at least 30 percent of their caseload will be people enrolled in Medi-Cal.
Elizabeth Aguilera
CALmatters
It’s all part of California’s effort to try to increase the number of doctors who accept Medi-Cal, the state’s Medicaid health insurer of low-income residents, which has been plagued by shortages—due both to the state’s paltry rates for doctors in its provider network and to the substantial increase in the number of residents on Medi-Cal. California has one of the lowest Medicaid reimbursement rates in the country, and patients wait months, or longer, to see specialists.
More than 1,300 doctors and medical residents applied for the benefit, which provides up to $300,000 over five years, and those selected were chosen based on their commitment to treat the underserved, their geographic location and their specialties.
Selected doctors included pediatricians, psychiatrists and obstetricians/gynecologists, and work in settings from community clinics to private practices.
Debt Is a Major Concern for Physicians Nationwide
“By removing the burden of student loan debt, this program will encourage more providers to make different choices when entering the health care market and be able to provide care for the Medi-Cal population,” said Jennifer Kent, director of the state Department of Health Care Services, which is administering the program.
“By removing the burden of student loan debt, this program will encourage more providers to make different choices when entering the health care market and be able to provide care for the Medi-Cal population.” — Jennifer Kent, director of the state Department of Health Care Services
Research indicates that debt is a major concern for physicians nationwide: A 2017 survey by an affiliate of the American Medical Association found that half owed $200,000 or more in medical school loans.In California, the passage of the federal Affordable Care Act and the expansion of Medi-Cal eligibility brought more than 4 million new enrollees to the program. Three years ago California opened the program to undocumented children, adding more than 200,000 to the benefit, and is now poised to add nearly 100,000 undocumented adults ages 19 to 25 under the new budget enacted by Gov. Gavin Newsom and the Legislature. This year, 1 in 3 Californians are on Medi-Cal. It pays for half of all births in the state, and 58% of all long-term care stays.
This is the first doctor group to receive funding from the $340 million fund created by Prop. 56 tobacco tax revenue. The state expects there will be at least five more rounds of awards.
Later this summer, the state will announce awards for dentists who applied to participate in the loan repayment program for serving Denti-Cal patients.
CALmatters.org is a nonprofit, nonpartisan media venture explaining California policies and politics.
Gov. Newsom Appoints Judges for Fresno, Merced Counties
Local /
13 hours ago
Israel Briefs US on Evacuation Plan for Palestinians Ahead of Planned Rafah Assault
World /
14 hours ago
Canadian Police Make 3 Arrests in Sikh Separatist’s Slaying That Sparked a Spat with India
World /
15 hours ago
Three Arrested for Trespassing, Posting Flyers at Fresno Synagogue and Church
Crime /
15 hours ago
Heavy Rains Over Texas Have Led to Water Rescues, School Cancellations and Orders to Evacuate
Weather /
18 hours ago
Yellen Says Threats to Democracy Risk US Economic Growth, an Indirect Jab at Trump
WASHINGTON — Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen argues that a fractured democracy can have destructive effects on the economy — an indirect jab...
Politics /
60 mins ago
Categories
Latest
Videos
Politics /
60 mins ago
Yellen Says Threats to Democracy Risk US Economic Growth, an Indirect Jab at Trump
World /
1 hour ago
New Sea Route for Gaza Aid on Track. Treating Starving Children Is a Priority
Inspire /
1 hour ago
At Time of Rising Antisemitism, Holocaust Survivors Take on Denial and Hate in New Digital Campaign
Local /
13 hours ago
Gov. Newsom Appoints Judges for Fresno, Merced Counties
World /
14 hours ago
Israel Briefs US on Evacuation Plan for Palestinians Ahead of Planned Rafah Assault
World /
15 hours ago