Doctors threaten Medicare backlash

[thundley4]

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- With a 21% cut to Medicare reimbursement rates set to take effect Monday, the nation's largest physician organization has informed its members about their options -- which include shutting off practices to new Medicare patients.

"To our physicians, we are providing information on their Medicare participation options, including how to remove themselves from the Medicare program," said James Rohack, president of the American Medical Association, whose more than 250,000 members include doctors, medical students and faculty members.

Some 43 million Americans receive Medicare coverage. For doctors who accept Medicare, federal law requires that reimbursement rates be adjusted annually based on formula tied to the health of the economy.

That law says rates should be cut every year to keep Medicare financially sound. But Congress has blocked those cuts from happening in seven of the last eight years and could still do so this year.

Those temporary fixes aren't good enough anymore, warned Rohack.

He said the AMA wants the current law to be repealed and a new formula used "that more accurately reflects the cost of providing care" in determining Medicare reimbursement rates.

Money.cnn

And this is without the $500B that the Dims want to cut from Medicare.

[Lacarnut]

I am having elective out patient surgery March 18 just in case this monstrosity gets passed. Taking away seniors Medicare Advantage health insurance will cause a revolt of old farts in this country. The Democraps do know who they are f... with.

Many doctors have said they will retire rather than work under more bureaucratic control, paper work and cuts in pay. I guess the hard headed Democrats and Obummer do not believe that millions of new patients with fewer doctors will equal a catastrophic health care delivery system. Many doctors will refuse to take new patients whether they are on medicare/medicaid or a private insurance plan.