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U.S. Representatives Chris Collins (NY-27) and Paul Tonko (NY-20) today released the following statements after introducing the Medicaid Directory of Caregivers Act (Medicaid DOC Act), legislation to improve access to doctors for Medicaid participants. Representatives Collins and Tonko are both members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which has jurisdiction over the Medicaid program and recently held a hearing on how to improve beneficiary access.

“Ensuring Medicaid beneficiaries can quickly and easily find out what doctors they can visit is common-sense legislation,” said Congressman Collins. “I thank Congressman Tonko for joining me in introducing this important legislation and I look forward to working with him to pass this vital reform through the House.”

“This commonsense legislation is an easy, beneficiary-friendly reform that will make it easier for patients to know their options and find a doctor,” said Congressman Tonko. “I look forward to working with Congressman Collins to shepherd this bill through the House, and I thank him for his work to improve care for Medicaid patients.”

The Medicaid DOC Act would make it easier for Medicaid beneficiaries to find doctors that accept their coverage by requiring states that operate a fee-for-service or primary care case management program to include a directory of physicians who served Medicaid patients in the prior year on the Medicaid program’s website. The listing on the state’s Medicaid website will include the physician’s name, address, telephone number, and specialty. This will help Medicaid beneficiaries easily identify doctors who can serve them.

Full text of the legislation can be read here.