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27% Pay Cut Or Not, More Docs To Leave Medicare In 2013
The
latest Congressional impasse on Medicare payment doctors is expected to
increase the number of physicians who will restrict or stop taking
patients covered by the federal health insurance program for the
elderly. (Photo credit: Wikipedia) With Congress and the White House
once again waiting until the 11th hour to come [...]http://www.forbes.com/sites/brucejapsen/2013/01/01/27-pay-cut-or-not-more-docs-to-leave-medicare-in-2013/
AMA ONLINE SURVEY OF PHYSICIANS The Impact of Medicare Physician Payment on Seniors Access’ To Care May 2010
Key Findings from a new AMA online survey of 9,000+ physicians who care for Medicare patients.
About one in five physicians overall (17%) are currently restricting the number of Medicare patients in their practice. The top two reasons they gave*:
Medicare payment rates are too low (85%) ongoing threat of future payment cuts makes Medicare an unreliable payer (78%)
Looking at just primary care physicians**, nearly one-third (31 percent) currently restrict the number of Medicare patients in their practice. The top two reasons they gave:
Medicare payment rates are too low (83%) ongoing threat of future payment cuts makes Medicare an unreliable payer (82%)
In response to this year’s two short-term delays to the 21% Medicare physician payment cut, nearly two-thirds (60%) of physicians looked into opting out of Medicare and treating patients through the private contracting option. Other actions included:
Delayed payments for supplies, rent and/or other expenses (39%) Took out a loan or line of credit in order to continue paying bills (17%) Held up paychecks or laid off/furloughed staff (17%) Cancelled or postponed scheduled services to Medicare patients (14%) Temporarily closed practice to new appointments with Medicare patients (13%)
Asked about temporary proposals under consideration by Congress, physicians say that the short- term actions will impact patients’ access to care.
If Congress enacts a 4-7 month Medicare payment freeze with a 21% payment cut, physicians say they will:
Restrict the number of Medicare patients they treat (54%) Stop taking new Medicare patients (50%) Stop taking any Medicare patients (31%)
If Congress enacts a 3-5 year increase in Medicare payments with a 21% payment cut to physicians in the future, physicians say they will:
Restrict the number of Medicare patients they treat (48%) Stop taking new Medicare patients (42%) Stop taking any Medicare patients (26%)
*Physicians in this survey were asked to check all answers that apply. **Primary care is defined as Family Practice, General Practice, Internal Medicine, and Obstetrics/Gynecology.
AMA ONLINE SURVEY OF PHYSICIANS The Impact of Medicare Physician Payment on Seniors Access’ To Care May 2010
Key Findings from a new AMA online survey of 9,000+ physicians who care for Medicare patients.
About one in five physicians overall (17%) are currently restricting the number of Medicare patients in their practice. The top two reasons they gave*:
Medicare payment rates are too low (85%) ongoing threat of future payment cuts makes Medicare an unreliable payer (78%)
Looking at just primary care physicians**, nearly one-third (31 percent) currently restrict the number of Medicare patients in their practice. The top two reasons they gave:
Medicare payment rates are too low (83%) ongoing threat of future payment cuts makes Medicare an unreliable payer (82%)
In response to this year’s two short-term delays to the 21% Medicare physician payment cut, nearly two-thirds (60%) of physicians looked into opting out of Medicare and treating patients through the private contracting option. Other actions included:
Delayed payments for supplies, rent and/or other expenses (39%) Took out a loan or line of credit in order to continue paying bills (17%) Held up paychecks or laid off/furloughed staff (17%) Cancelled or postponed scheduled services to Medicare patients (14%) Temporarily closed practice to new appointments with Medicare patients (13%)
Asked about temporary proposals under consideration by Congress, physicians say that the short- term actions will impact patients’ access to care.
If Congress enacts a 4-7 month Medicare payment freeze with a 21% payment cut, physicians say they will:
Restrict the number of Medicare patients they treat (54%) Stop taking new Medicare patients (50%) Stop taking any Medicare patients (31%)
If Congress enacts a 3-5 year increase in Medicare payments with a 21% payment cut to physicians in the future, physicians say they will:
Restrict the number of Medicare patients they treat (48%) Stop taking new Medicare patients (42%) Stop taking any Medicare patients (26%)
*Physicians in this survey were asked to check all answers that apply. **Primary care is defined as Family Practice, General Practice, Internal Medicine, and Obstetrics/Gynecology.
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