The Conservative Cave

Current Events => General Discussion => Topic started by: Chris_ on October 09, 2009, 07:51:54 AM

Title: Mayo unit no longer to accept Medicare
Post by: Chris_ on October 09, 2009, 07:51:54 AM
Quote
Mayo unit no longer to accept Medicare

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.

"This is just a primary-care problem," said Dr. R. Scott Gorman, vice chairman of the executive-operations team at Mayo Clinic of Arizona. "We're trying to look at ways to make it more sustainable."

Mayo gives the feds the  :bird: . Gotta love that.  Didn't 'ol Hopey McChangespoon promise lower healthcare costs for everyone?   ::) ...and where's my d*mned pony? 

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

Title: Re: Mayo unit no longer to accept Medicare
Post by: bkg on October 09, 2009, 08:44:31 AM
Mayo loses ~70M annually due to medicare and uninsured.

This is a very smart move. And flies in the face of Obama saying they support his plan.