Medicaid: Texas docs lose money; Jindal adm. official has 'improper contact' with contractor

News outlets report on Medicaid developments in Louisiana and Texas.

The Associated Press: Medicaid Problems Hinge On Texas Doctor, Nurse Pay
The first question many doctors ask when new patients call for appointments is how they intend to pay. If the answer is Medicaid, the doctor can expect to lose money. The Texas Legislature has been balancing the state's budget by intentionally paying doctors 40 to 75 percent less for Medicaid patients than what private insurers pay for the same treatment (4/27).

The Associated Press/Washington Post: Jindal Administration: Greenstein Had Improper Contact With Medicaid Contractor In Bid Process
Gov. Bobby Jindal's administration said Friday that his former health secretary, Bruce Greenstein, improperly exchanged repeated phone calls and text messages with a company bidding for a lucrative Medicaid contract, creating an "unfair advantage" for the firm (4/26).