Should physicians commit to having Medicaid patients make up 5% of their practice?

In a recent “Perspective” article in the New England Journal of Medicine, Lawrence P. Casalino, MD, PhD, discusses, in part, the low rate of acceptance of new Medicaid patients by physicians.

He cited such reasons as very low payments from Medicaid, administrative problems in obtaining payment, and time required for physicians and staff to deal with the Medicaid pharmaceutical formulary. 

Dr. Casalino argued, however, that physicians should care for Medicaid patients as a matter of professional obligation and asked, “Would it be reasonable to ask all physicians to commit to providing care for enough Medicaid enrollees so that at least 5% of each physician’s practice consisted of Medicaid patients (assuming sufficient demand)?” 

Renal & Urology News would like to ask its physician readers what they think about this, so please answer the following poll question.