COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) -- A bill allowing South Carolina's Medicaid agency to cut doctors' rates next month has been held up by a House panel.
A House Ways and Means subcommittee decided Tuesday to delay voting on the measure until after a meeting between the agency's new director and medical providers.
The state Department of Health and Human Services announced last week that most doctors, dentists and other medical providers should see a 3 percent cut in their payments starting April 4.
The reductions depend on the bill passing the Legislature in the meantime. The Senate has already approved it.
South Carolina is the only state that bars its Medicaid agency from reducing rates.
The planned reductions would shave $7.5 million from the agency's projected deficit for the fiscal year ending June 30.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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