Last year, Dr. Montrea Thomas thought she had a few more years left before she would have to retire her pediatric practice in Orange. But in a couple of weeks, the 78-year-old pediatrician, who mostly cares for low-income children, will close her office because she can no longer pay the bills.
“I am in debt, quite a bit,” Thomas said. “And when I close my practice, that is one of the reasons I’m going to have to close.” Thomas is paid mostly through Medicaid, a state and federally funded insurance plan that covers low-income patients. Nationwide, doctors who accept Medicaid are paid much less than private insurers. In New Jersey, data shows Medicaid rates are among the lowest in the country. To read the full story.