What 'ghost' physicians mean for patients

Earlier this month, Oregon Health and Science University released new nationwide data that found low physician participation in Medicaid. 

Researchers deemed these physicians “ghost” providers: physicians who are enrolled in Medicaid, but don’t care for even a single patient covered by the federal health insurance program.

Those findings also revealed that another third of physicians who are enrolled in Medicaid may be overburdened, with higher-than-average yearly patient volumes.

Dr. Jane Zhu, associate professor of medicine at OHSU, joins us with more details.