Mayo unit no longer to accept Medicare

[Craftsman]

One of the Mayo Clinic's two family-medicine practices in Arizona soon will stop accepting Medicare, leaving thousands of patients to pay out of pocket for routine doctor's visits or find a new physician.

The changes, which go into effect Jan. 1, apply only to primary-care services offered at Mayo Clinic Family Medicine-Arrowhead.

Mayo will accept Medicare for critical care and specialty services at its north Phoenix hospital. Lab services, physical therapy and X-rays at the Glendale family-practice office also will continue to be covered.

Hospital officials called the new policy a "two-year pilot program" and said Thursday that the changes are necessary because of low Medicare reimbursement rates.

http://www.azcentral.com/business/articles/2009/10/09/20091009biz-mayoclinic1009.html

[CountAllVotes]

1. and so reality sets in

and it begins - we don't want your freakin' Medicare you loser you! :mad:

:dem: :kick:

[Altoid_Cyclist]

2. Universal health care anyone???

I'm still surprised that the repubs haven't suggested a national health care system modeled on the "Logans Run" system but based on party affiliation.

[raccoon]

3. Off to Greatest! nt

[imdjh]

4. Don't buy this. My doctor told me that Medicare pays more than United.

One day I was talking with my doctor and said that I was looking forward to Medicare but that he probably wasn't looking forward to me being on Medicare. My assumption was that because United is universally accepted that it's as wonderful for doctors as it is for me. My doctor said that Medicare actually paid more than United did. But there's a catch- all Medicare is not created equal. Medicare Humana HMO is not as readily accepted as regular Medicare, which leads me to believe that the Humana HMO pays a lot less.

[Blue State Blues]

5. Medicare pays more than my old insurance

There's something missing from this story.

[Craftsman]

7. I have heard Medicare is really slow in paying

[CountAllVotes]

9. the doctor charged $135.00 for an appt.

Medicare paid a whopping $45.00 of this amount. That leaves $90.00 outstanding.

Why would the Mayo Clinic want patients where the payment is about 1/3 of what the actual charge was?

I saw this one coming a long time ago. There are many doctors where I live that do not accept Medicare.

[Sgent]

8. It really depends on the area

private insurance pays anywhere from 85% to 300% of Medicare rates depending on the area.

Note I'm talking about straight Medicare not advantage plans.

[Festivito]

6. So 2 years must be how long the HC reform might last. /nt