Medicare Cuts
Tue, 22 Nov 2011|
An inside look at how the deficit-cutting supercommittee's failure trickles down to the local physician's office.
Automatically Generated Transcript (may not be 100% accurate)
Ophthalmologist doctor Charles -- he says the cost of running his practice keeps going up every year. But there's been no real increase in Medicare reimbursements for about ten years Medicare the government health insurance program for people 65 and older. And not care. Sticky -- most physician practices already lose money on Medicare patient.
I love my Medicare patients I love all my patients and I work very hard to give them the best care. But I have to find somewhere in the practice. A place to generate. Enough income that I can afford to continue my hobby is taking care Medicare pay.
Since about ten years ago congress adopted a Medicare funding formula that cut payments to physicians. But every year since lawmakers have postponed actually making the cut or replacing the formula. So now a 27%. Cut in physician reimbursements is set to take effect the first of next year. A survey by the Ohio State medical association found 61% of physicians have already set new limits or are considering new limits on Medicare patients. And 52%. Have already or are considering reducing charity care.
If you have to look and a 20s30%. Decrease in your income every six months since this keeps rolling around in the congress. You have to look at everything you're doing in your practice. And decide if you can afford to continue taking care Medicare patients.
Dicky says he expects congress will once again postpone cuts and push the reimbursement problem on down the road. And the cost of long term effects will continue to grow. Took part NBC for.
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