This study examines the effects of Medicaid payment generosity on access and care for Medicaid adults and children. We used data from the National Surveys of America's Families for 1997, 1999, and 2002 and the Urban Institute Medicaid capitation rate surveys. Higher payment rates improve some aspects of care for Medicaid beneficiaries, but the effects are not dramatic. Higher payments increase the probability of having a usual source of care and having at least one visit to a doctor or other health professional for Medicaid adults, and produce more positive assessments of the health care received by adults and children. (Shen, Yu-Chu and Zuckerman, Stephen. June 2005. "The Effect of Medicaid Payment Levels on Access and Use Among Beneficiaries." Health Services Research 40(3): 723-744.)
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