Michigan Medicaid Recipients Report Easier Access To Primary Care

A growing number of Michiganders enrolled in Medicaid say they are having an easier time accessing primary care services via the program, while individually insured residents are experiencing the opposite, according to a new survey.

Data compiled by the Center for Healthcare Research & Transformation indicated that 91% of Medicaid recipients said it was relatively easy for them to schedule an appointment with a primary care provider, compared to 74% of those polled in 2010.

However, 83% of those in individual health plans said it was “very easy” or “somewhat easy” to schedule an appointment. That's down from 96% polled in 2010.

“Since 2010, much has changed in how health care is organized and delivered in Michigan—in both public andprivate health insurance programs,” said Marianne Udow-Phillips, the CHRT's director.”This survey suggests that these changes have beenpositive for Medicaid recipients, but more challenging for those with individually purchased health coverage.”

A survey of primary care physicians undertaken by CHRT late last year indicated that many of them were preparing to expand their practices for an inflow of new patients driven by the Affordable Care Act. More than 289,000 Michiganders are expected to enroll in Medicaid starting in 2014, with that number increasing to 620,000 by 2020 – an overall 30% increase in Medicaid enrollees statewide.

Although the ACA is expected to boost the number of residents with individual policies by as much as 369,000, the latest survey did not explain why capacity is not being expanded in preparation to serving this population.

The CHRT is a research institute jointly operated by the University of Michigan and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan.