February 26, 2010 -- Unless a minor bipartisan miracle happens in Congress over the next few days, physicians will go over the cliff on Monday. That's when a scheduled 21.2% reduction in Medicare reimbursement takes effect.
Leaders of organized medicine call this reduction "the cliff" because, in their view, many physicians will not be able to afford to see new Medicare patients, or even stay in the federal program, or even stay in practice if their Medicare pay drops by more than one fifth. They also call it a cliff for seniors who may not be able to find a physician willing to treat them.
For months, congressional Democrats have tried to pass legislation to avert the massive pay cut, which was triggered by the notorious sustainable growth rate formula that Medicare uses to set physician reimbursement. However, Democrats were once again thwarted this week when Sen. Jim Bunning (R-PA) blocked a bill that would have extended the deadline 30 days. Sen. Bunning said he couldn't live with the bill, which also would have temporarily extended unemployment benefits, COBRA subsidies, and other programs, because Senate Democrats hadn't figured out a way to pay for it, and thus would be adding to the already swollen federal deficit.
This is from Medscape News. Now far be it from me to question this automatically, but Sen Bunning is from Kentucky, KY. Not even close. Does this mean something? No idea, but I can tell you this .. IF WE CANNOT AFFORD IT, WE CANNOT.
Raise taxes or cut something else. Check out the ancillary articles emphasis.
The money saved is not going into HIS pocket.
So I guess we cannot depend on the physicians to accept lower pay. Nor should we. This has to be paid for or we have to face the music and SOLVE IT IN GENERALIf physicians are true to their warnings, Medicare patients next week may experience difficulty making an appointment. A recent poll conducted by several medical societies representing neurosurgeons, for example, revealed that almost 40% would cut back on seeing new Medicare patients if reimbursement continues to decline, while 18% would stop accepting new Medicare patients altogether. Another 27% said they would treat fewer established Medicare patients.
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4 comments:
Well, ain't this just wunnerful?
Not!
My disabled cousin, who has Medicare coverage only since her heart attack at age 50 ten years ago, is going to be in deep shit if this cut stands.
I also wonder....
what about the reimbursements for nursing homes, home therapists, etc.?
All fee chargers.
Congress can accomplish NOTHING.
Even within the dominant party all they can do is keeping postponing JUDGMENT DAY.
Cut something else.
Right now I'd have to say CUT ONE NUCLEAR ATTACK SUB.
21 billion over a lifetime. I believe.
They are all sickening.
I don’t understand the delay in passing the bill that would block Medicare cuts to physicians. Don’t lawmakers care what will happen to Medicare recipients if physicians can no longer accept Medicare? When I did my 2010 enrollment, I was able to find a Medicare plan at PlanPrescriber.com my doctor accepted. I fear this will not be the case if something is not done to fairly compensate physicians who accept Medicare.
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