Are You A Medicaid “Ghost” Provider?

Apr 20, 2026 | Office Management

Physician networks for lower-income people on Medicaid are studded with doctors who never see these patients, a new study by Oregon researchers found.

The study showed that a majority of physicians nationwide are listed as participating in Medicaid, but nearly 30% of them are “ghost” providers. They’re listed as a provider on state Medicaid plans — such as the Oregon Health Plan — but never actually see Medicaid patients.

Western University of Health Sciences Lebanon Oregon

And another 10% only see a few patients, the research found.

 

OHSU study finds Medicaid networks rife with ‘ghost’ providers – Salem Reporter