VI AG Warns Physicians Against Refusing To Treat Medicaid And Medicare Patients
Attorney General Warns Physicians Against Refusing To Treat Medicaid And Medicare Patients, Says It’s Their Contractual Obligation Under V.I. Law
Medicaid, the healthcare program that assists low-income families or individuals in paying for long-term medical and custodial care costs, which is funded by the federal government and run at the state level, is set to become available to an additional 19,000 Virgin Islanders following efforts by the Mapp administration to expand the program.
But the expansion will be of little benefit if, as alleged, physicians in the Virgin Islands continue to deny medical services to residents with Medicare and Medicaid.
Attorney General Claude Walker recently responded to a complaint by Dr. Frank Odlum, chair of the Virgin Islands Board of Medical Examiners, who alleged that certain healthcare providers in the territory have been denying care to patients on the aforementioned federal programs.
“As stated, I am deeply troubled by the nature of these allegations as one such complaint involves a physician who apparently terminated a patient’s care when that patient no longer had private insurance and was placed on Medicare,” Mr. Walker wrote. The A.G. then explained in detail the lawful duties of physicians who are wholly or partially employed by the Government of the Virgin Islands in regards to the federally-funded programs.
Read more: http://viconsortium.com/featured/attorney-general-warns-physicians-against-refusing-to-treat-medicaid-and-medicare-patients/