Human cost of cuts in Medicare

[question everything]

Human cost of cuts in Medicare

Physicians turning away new patients

By Cheryl Clark
STAFF WRITER

January 8, 2006

(snip)

Based on calls to his Tupelo, Miss., office in the past few days, American Medical Association President Dr. Edward Hill said a significant percentage of physicians nationwide is also moving toward rejecting new Medicare patients. "The problem is not (pay cuts) this year, but year after year after year," said Hill, a family practitioner. "Now, the frustration across the country is generalized." From this year to 2011, physicians' expenses will increase 15 percent while Medicare reimbursement will decline 26 percent, according to AMA projections.

The San Diego County Medical Society, which represents physicians, says this may exacerbate a local shortage of doctors. It has said many of them are retiring early or have found other lines of work because of disenchantment with their pay. Hay said the situation continues to worsen, with fewer specialists willing to practice in the county.

(snip)

Greg Knoll, an attorney who directs the Consumer Center for Health Education and Advocacy in San Diego, said he often can't find physicians to treat poor patients. "Unless you're in a managed-care plan where doctors are contractually obligated to see you, we can't find an orthopedic specialist to see Medi-Cal patients now," Knoll said. "If the government thinks Medicare cuts won't have the same disastrous effect on elderly and sick people that (past) cuts in Medi-Cal have had, it is sorely mistaken."

(snip)

Although Congress and the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services agree that the federal government's formula for setting reimbursement rates is flawed, efforts to change it have been a political hot potato. The formula assumes that health expenses have kept pace with a cost-of-living measure called the gross domestic product. In reality, health-care costs have risen much faster than the GDP. The problem may affect care provided to privately insured patients in managed-care organizations, which enroll millions of Californians. That's because many HMOs tie their reimbursement rates to those set by Medicare.

(snip)


Mazer offered two examples to show how Medicare payments to doctors have fallen.

In 1988, he received $2,300 for an operation involving microsurgery of the ear. Today, he gets $1,100 for the same procedure. Similarly, Medicare paid Mazer $500 for a tonsillectomy in 1988. Now, it reimburses him $287, he said. "And there's no change in the amount of work, time or liability" shouldered by the physician, Mazer said.

Cheryl Clark: [phone]; [email protected]


Find this article at:
http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20060108/news_1n8cuts.html

[Why Syzygy]

1. this is a deveasting blow

to all Americans and world citizans.

But it is Bush, you know, at his finest. Damn them. Damn THEM. Can we damn them now? Where is Jesus when you need him? GODDAM THEM@!

[Why Syzygy]

2. Vote this up

does this not make you CRY? People DYING in the USofA because of lack of adequate medical care?

Is that repulsive? Is that right? WHAT THE FUCK?

George Walker Bush is the epitome of evil walking. Is this apparent?
He kills wherever he goes, and his wife and parents with him. Is this O.K.?

FUCK NO! STOP IT! WHEN? Jeezus I need a Jeezus.

[OzarkDem]

3. I don't feel sorry for the doctors

And equating lower income for them with harm to patients is sometimes dishonest. Keep in mind, the AMA has refused to endorse any attempt to develop national health care coverage.

[question everything]

4. Doctors have to make a living

If their expenses increase by a much higher percentage than their reimbursement rate, they will run their clinic to the ground and will quit altogether. As is happening across the country.

It is a matter of the priority in Washington. Spending on war in Iraq, giving tax breaks to individuals and corporations as a reward for their support of Bush - while cutting medical expenses shows how upside down their priorities are.

And perhaps we do need extreme measures to highlight this. No doubt, there are many members of Congress older than 65 covered by Medicare. But, no doubt, they get the best treatment that money can buy.

[OzarkDem]

5. The problem with that

is higher reimbursement rates aren't usually passed on to patients in any way, and we end up with higher health care costs with fewer people covered.

If doctors were concerned, they would do more than lobby for increases in reimbursement rates, but instead help lobby for comprehensive changes to the funding of health care services that do directly benefit their patients as well as themselves. The AMA has chosen not to, so many see them as part of the problem, not part of the solution.

[Sgent]

6. Physician reimbursement

for exams and procedures make up a very small portion of total medical expenditures. Hospitals, SNF's, machinery, medication, and the like are the ones who make up over 90% of expenditures.

In my area, a general practice physician making 80k / yr in 1980, seeing the same number of patients and doing approximately the same work would now be making 65K. This is not taking into account inflation.

[KT2000]

7. wake up you doctors!!

Doctors are always putting out these whiny ass pleas but they never seem to stand up and take action for anything. They are quite happy to rid their patient load of medicare and welfare cases - they find this an acceptable solution to the medical problems facing this country.

They are satisfied with the lack of medical care for the uninsured and have not even raised this as an issue. Their political action is limited to dumping patients and hoping the old, sick and disabled will do the fighting. Screw 'em.