Medicare's Future - Pro | Doctors likely to flee from low payments, onerous rules

[BridgeTheGap]

ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- The exodus of doctors from Medicare, and likely from private practice altogether, is accelerating. The signs are undeniable: A 2008 poll by an independent Medicare commission found that 28 percent of seniors had trouble finding a primary- care doctor, up from 24 percent the year before.

In Texas, only 38 percent of primary-care doctors will take new Medicare patients. The Mayo Clinic is opting out of Medicare in several locations because the low payment rates don't allow the organization to provide the quality care its culture demands.

One financial planner reported that well over half of his physician clients have asked him to restructure their finances so they can retire in 2013 -- the year before the main provisions of the new health overhaul law take effect.

Doctors are on the front lines of ObamaCare's changes. The legislation requires more than $500billion in cuts to Medicare to fund new entitlement spending, including a 21 percent cut in physician payments. Congress just postponed the cut until December, but in January, it will be 30 percent. Every delay adds tens of billions of dollars to the cost of a permanent fix.

http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20100716/OPINION04/7160303/1054/OPINION/Medicare+s+Future+-+Pro+|+Doctors+likely+to+flee+from+low+payments++onerous+rules

[Skink]

1. we could require that they take medicaire patients.

[LiberalLoner]

2. Well if doctors don't want to work for those wages, I'll bet there are tons of

out of work people who would love to become doctors instead....

[Paper Roses]

7. Will these people give 8 years of their life to be educated?

Will they also be willing to incur $100,000 to $150,000 worth of debt too?

Training to be a doctor is not all glamor. It is a long, hard row of study, money paid out, 80 hour work weeks while in training.

After all that, you must find employment somewhere. Set up your own practice? Too $$$$. Join a group practice? Work on staff at a hospital?

If reimbursements keep going down, we will all have trouble finding a doctor and then getting a timely appointment.

[LiberalLoner]

9. You've given me something to think about. I just wish medical costs weren't so high to begin with.

[Paper Roses]

3. The reality is, the Office of the doctors receive $62.00 per visit

for a patient on Medicare. This is not the Doctor, this is the Office. How are they supposed to run all that is associated with a practice and give the patient proper care and time on $62.00?

I am on Medicare, I have a daughter who is am MD. I see and hear both sides of the fence.

It is tough. Again, we can thank the insurance companies for bringing us this disaster in Medicine.

[Sanity Claws]

5. No that is not enough

Every doctor needs at least two people to support him/her.
What does your daughter think of an $80 visit?

[Paper Roses]

6. I do not delve into that with her. We were having a discussion one day

about the proposed changes in Medicare reimbursement and doctors dropping out of the program. Her comment about the money aspect was the fact that her office got $62.00 a patient.

We should keep in mind that these dollars go to the office, not to the individual doctors. Every aspect of the practice, insurance (huge $$), office support, rent,and everything else comes out of this reimbursement and regular insurance reimbursements. As I'm sure you all know, the insurance companies are not generous with their payments either.. Add to it that fact that the practice has to wait for payment.....The picture is not so pretty.

I do not ask her and it is none of my business, but I don't notice that she is getting rich.
Those days are gone forever.

[bemildred]

4. Maybe we can cut a deal with Cuba to get more doctors .

:popcorn:

[Paper Roses]

8. Something just occurred to me after I made my last posted reply.

People complain about the doctors and question costs of their doctor payments.

Ever look at one of those receipts you get if you are on Medicare? It starts, "This is not a bill:"

It shows clearly what they have paid the doctor for services rendered. Not impressive. You will eventually be billed for the rest.

At this time, as you debate the merits of cutting reimbursements to doctors, give thought to this.

Have you used a lawyer lately.

What...a minimum of $200.00, $300.00 an hour? Plus all those things like filing fees ad infinitum.

THere is no question that we can all go broke with medical care needs. I still maintain that it is not the doctors.

Think: Insurance companies.