PROFESSIONAL ISSUES

Virginia obstetricians welcome promised Medicaid pay hike

A state working group continues to look at issues threatening to put rural OBs out of business.

By Tanya Albert, AMNews staff. Sept. 13, 2004.

Franklin, Va., obstetrician-gynecologist Sharon Sheffield, MD, has not seen an increase in Medicaid reimbursement during the seven years she's been practicing in the state. Meanwhile, her medical liability insurance rates have nearly tripled in the past three years.

So, for Dr. Sheffield and other Virginia obstetricians, the recently announced 34% increase in Medicaid pay for deliveries is key to keeping their practices running.

But doctors and elected officials say it's still just a first step in changing a climate that has made it increasingly difficult for doctors and hospitals to keep their doors open to pregnant patients, particularly those in rural areas.

"It's going to help," said Dr. Sheffield, who is part of a larger group practice. "But we're still not out of the crisis."

"While the payment went up 34%, they have to do something about tort reform or liability insurance," added Winchester, Va., obstetrician-gynecologist John B. Willey, MD.

Virginia is one of the states the American Medical Association says is showing early warning signs of a medical liability crisis that could prompt physicians to retire early, move to practice in other states or give up high-risk procedures. Most in the state agree that patient access to obstetricians, particularly in rural areas, is already jeopardized.

Gov. Mark R. Warner in March created a Working Group on Rural Obstetrical Care to discuss what can be done to keep hospitals from closing obstetrical units and to prevent even more physicians from giving up obstetrics.

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