Need a some confirmation or myth busting - re: Medicaid/Medicare

[ehrnst]

A family member of mine tells me that she heard (via right wing talk radio) that North Dakota has NO physicians that will accept Medicare or Medicaid.

How can I fact-check this? Any ideas?

I would like to get her out of the habit of listening to these idiots.

[tekisui]

1. I think they are full of shit.

97.3% of physicians and other practitioners in North Dakota participate in Medicare Part B (Medicare Part B Participating Physicians and Other Practitioners by State, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services)

http://www.wrongdiagnosis.com/doctors/medicare-doctor-and-physician-participation-statistics.htm

Chart here:
http://www.statehealthfacts.org/profileind.jsp?rgn=36&ind=341&cat=6

[sinkingfeeling]

2. Well, Senator Conrad claimed to have fixed the problem in 2003, when the GOP passed the

bill adding Part D to Medicare.

http://conrad.senate.gov/issues/statements/healthcare/031125_medicarebill.cfm

However, there has been a problem with physicians in rural areas accepting the standard fees set by Medicare/Medicaid since the
Sustainable Growth Rate cost control was put in place in 1997.

Here's the lastest numbers on people in ND use of Medicare. (96,520)
http://www.statehealthfacts.org/profileind.jsp?cat=6&sub=80&rgn=36

[uppityperson]

3. My aging parent and family in ND sees docs there all the time usind Medicare.

Don't listen to those idiots, or alternatively, listen and laugh or eyeroll.

Yes, docs in ND see people with both.

[Sgent]

4. It maybe partially true

many physicians in my area won't accept new Medicare patients (esp. primary care physicians).

Almost no private practice physicians in my area will accept Medicaid on an outpatient basis. Medicaid patients have to go through a community health clinic (which gets much higher reimbursement than standard physicians), then receive most of their specialist care in a hospital setting. Most physicians break even at best (and often lose money on many procedures) by taking Medicaid.