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loss, but several years ago he was forced to pass most of the loss on to the paying sick. This amounts to an oppressive hidden tax on those Virginians who are in poor health.
For those outside the health care system, it might seem that I have overstated my case. The fact is that in the past 10 years, the General Assembly has increased the fee .paid to physicians for a visit of a Medicaid patient by only 5 percent. During this same time, most expenses nearly doubled.
We at the Foundation for Christian Medical Care (a nonprofit institution) care for a large population of elderly and indigent. The inadequate reimbursement rate of both Medicaid and Medicare is producing for the Foundation an operating loss. Unless something is done soon to correct this problem, we will no longer be able to take care of the medical needs of anyone. Already many of the physicians in Virginia will not accept Medicaid as payment 4 for patient care.
It is time for our lawmakers to take a realistic view of caring for the medical needs of our poor and our elderly. It is not fair to place the burden on the paying sick. We should all carry our fair share of the load.
CHARLES S. DAVIS, M.D.,
Ph.D., Executive Director
Foundation for Christian
Medical Care
Drakes Branch
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