Opinion: Physicians who refuse to accept Medicaid patients breach their contract with society
Physicians who exclude Medicaid patients reject their moral responsibility and worsen the disparities in health they have been charged with eliminating.
The notice on the clinic’s website, “We do not accept Medicaid,” might as well say, “Poor people aren’t welcome here.” It’s an unfortunate practice that is sadly all too common and affects the lives of millions of Americans. My patient, Gerald, is one of them.
A retired school bus driver, Gerald and his wife make do on a meager income. For health insurance, he relies on Medicaid — insurer of the aged and disabled, pregnant women and children, and the poor. Gerald
