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December 15, 2007
Physician says proposed Medicare cuts imperil healthcare access for millions of beneficiaries
In the Wall Street Journal's (12/11) Doctor's Office column, Benjamin Brewer, M.D., writes that "[a]ccess to primary care for millions of people enrolled in Medicare is in peril" due to the proposed cuts to Medicare physician payments. If there is no "reprieve soon, Medicare will reduce payments to doctors by an average of 10.1 percent starting Jan. 1."
In 2006, "a planned reduction of five percent was averted by Congress at the last minute, and payments stayed about flat." Dr. Brewer states that there may still be time for Congress to avert the proposed cuts. Still, "the constant threat of decreases, and the absence of increases, in recent years are leading doctors to re-think their commitment to caring for Medicare patients." In addition, the problem "is becoming acute for primary care doctors, who are faring worse than those in other specialties."
Related Link:
- "The Doctor's Office: Planned Medicare Cuts Weigh on Primary Care December 11, 2007," Dr. Benjamin Brewer, Wall Street Journal, December 11, 2007.
Posted by admin at December 15, 2007 06:49 AM