Doctors will get more for foster child exams

The Associated Press

OLYMPIA— State officials are trying to improve health screening for foster children by paying doctors more to examine them.

Starting this month, the state Department of Social and Health Services will double Medicaid reimbursement rates for doctors who do initial physical exams on foster children.

There are about 10,000 children in foster homes in Washington at any one time, and many have untreated physical and mental health problems.

"The whole system needs to put a higher priority on making sure children in foster placement get this complete health screening within the first 30 days after they become the responsibility of our social workers," Gov. Gary Locke said Friday in a news release announcing the changes.

Washington doctors have long complained that Medicaid reimbursement rates are too low, and many have stopped seeing Medicaid patients because their practices can’t afford it. Medicaid is the government program that provides health coverage for poor people.

While reimbursement rates vary according to children’s ages, DSHS’ move will increase the payment for a typical exam from $60 to $120 for foster children. It will cost the state $1.5 million in the current 2001-03 budget cycle.

Exams of nonfoster children who rely on Medicaid will still be reimbursed at the lower rate.

Also, the state is going to pay six medical consultants — doctors or psychologists — to help social workers and foster parents understand the medical needs of foster children.

The state is defending itself in a lawsuit that seeks court intervention in the foster-care system. The class-action lawsuit, originally filed in 1998 in Snohomish County, alleges the state bounces children through multiple foster homes with inadequate mental health screening and not enough training for parents.

Copyright ©2001 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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