CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (AP) — Doctors who treat TennCare patients are getting a New Year's pay raise.
The Chattanooga Times Free Press reports practitioners in family medicine, general internal medicine, pediatrics or a related subspecialty will start to be reimbursed at Medicare rates. On average, that is more than 25 percent above what they are paid now.
TennCare officials say that the boost will give qualifying Tennessee doctors an extra $55 million over the next two years.
Providing doctors an incentive to treat TennCare patients is important, because health experts expect the rolls to expand a lot next year. That's when the requirement that everyone have health insurance kicks in.
The state must submit a plan for the reimbursement boost for federal approval. The increases will be retroactive to Jan. 1.