How to Find a Doctor Who Takes Medicaid

Medicaid is a federal program administered by each state government that provides health care services to low-income Americans, according to the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Like other types of health insurance coverage, Medicaid pays participating physicians directly for your care. Finding a Medicaid doctor constitutes a challenge, though--a 2005 Community Tracking Physician survey indicated that only half of doctors surveyed took Medicaid. Three main resources will help you in your search for a nearby Medicaid doctor.

Instructions

• 1

  Check national directories. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services--the government agency that oversees the Medicaid program--maintains a national directory of providers who participate in the Medicaid and Medicare programs. The CMS databases segment the provider directories into types of providers--with physicians separate from non-physicians--and allow you to specify a specialty in your search. National directories organize all providers by zip code to simplify the process to find a nearby Medicaid doctor. CMS search tools also ask you to indicate whether you prefer to see a male or female Medicaid doctor.

• 2

  Contact your state health department. Since Medicaid is a federal program that each state manages through its health department, contacting your state's health department constitutes a critical step. State health departments maintain directories of doctors who practice in the state and who accept Medicaid; most state health departments offer online search tools to locate a nearby Medicaid doctor, but in some cases, calling your local health department office makes for the best option.

• 3

  Call your Medicaid insurance provider. Some states work with health insurance companies to provide Medicaid services and payment to physicians. If you participate in such a program, call the toll-free number on your insurance card to get help in finding a local Medicaid doctor. Insurance companies who provide these services also provide searchable directories online so you can easily find a doctor in your community who takes Medicaid.