State payments to Georgia doctors, nursing homes to rise in July

Doctors, nursing home owners and others who provide health care services to Georgians on public health programs will get a $140 million boost in payments after a key state board gave final approval to the increase Thursday.

The Department of Community Health board backed the new payment rates, which were funded by the General Assembly in the recently completed legislative session.

Two-thirds of the money, or close to $100 million of it, will come from the federal government, which helps fund the state’s Medicaid program.

Doctor payments will rise more than 50 percent for some procedures and care when the rates go into effect on July 1.