Find a Doctor Who Takes Medicaid
Medicaid is a federal program administered by each state government that provides health care services to low-income Americans, according to the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Like other types of health insurance coverage, Medicaid pays participating physicians directly for your care. Finding a Medicaid doctor constitutes a challenge, though--a 2005 Community Tracking Physician survey indicated that only half of doctors surveyed took Medicaid. Three main resources will help you in your search for a nearby Medicaid doctor.
Instructions
1. Check national directories. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services--the government agency that oversees the Medicaid program--maintains a national directory of providers who participate in the Medicaid and Medicare programs. The CMS databases segment the provider directories into types of providers--with physicians separate from non-physicians--and allow you to specify a specialty in your search. National directories organize all providers by zip code to simplify the process to find a nearby Medicaid doctor. CMS search tools also ask you to indicate whether you prefer to see a male or female Medicaid doctor.
2. Contact your state health department. Since Medicaid is a federal program that each state manages through its health department, contacting your state's health department constitutes a critical step. State health departments maintain directories of doctors who practice in the state and who accept Medicaid; most state health departments offer online search tools to locate a nearby Medicaid doctor, but in some cases, calling your local health department office makes for the best option.
3. Call your Medicaid insurance provider. Some states work with health insurance companies to provide Medicaid services and payment to physicians. If you participate in such a program, call the toll-free number on your insurance card to get help in finding a local Medicaid doctor. Insurance companies who provide these services also provide searchable directories online so you can easily find a doctor in your community who takes Medicaid.
