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Doctors Opt Out Of Medicare System Due To Growing Frustration
Its all been said before, so it should come as no surprise
. Frustrated doctors are choosing to opt out of the Medicare system.In fact, according to a 2008 Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) survey, Medicare recipients reported an increase in the difficulty of finding a new primary care physician. And the American College of Physicians estimates that there wont be enough internists to go around by 2025.
Now an article posted May 2010 on the American Medical News website reports on doctors continuing frustrations with the Medicare system and shares a story about the practice of Juliette Madrigal-Dersch, an internist in Marble Falls, Texas, who "decided to see Medicare patients only on a private-contracting basis. While the report suggests that relatively few doctors actually sever ties with Medicare altogether -- they generally just stop accepting new Medicare patients -- many physicians are tiring of the cycle of facing dramatic Medicare pay cuts only to be spared by lawmakers when they apply short-term fixes."
Dr. Madrigal-Dershs reasons for opting out echoes the sentiments of most doctors who are frustrated with the program: low reimbursement rates, too much paperwork and high fees -- up to $10,000 per incident -- even for small errors. Mostly it comes down to losing patience with the system.
The impact on seniors of physicians opting out of the Medicare program hasnt been a serious problem yet, said Alan Weinstock an insurance broker at www.MedicareSupplementPlans.com. But if large numbers of physicians join the group that is opting out, it may be difficult for seniors to have access to affordable health care. Weinstock believes Medicare recipients need to shop early to find the best doctor -- before they turn 65.
The problem is that 2010 already has been a bad year for Medicare pay, at least in the eyes of physicians. The temporary solutions that lawmakers have implemented have become even more short-term than usual. The most recent fix only gets doctors through the end of May.
In its annual March report to Congress, MedPAC recommended a 1% pay update for physicians in 2011. The reason being that Medicare beneficiaries reported access to physician services remains good. In fact, its better than what privately insured patients ages 50 to 64 reported.
For other current or soon-to-be Medicare patients who are looking for the best place to shop and compare Medicare supplement insurance plans, it is easy to get all the information you need just by visiting http://www.MedicareSupplementPlans.com a website which offers those 65 and older assistance in finding the right Medicare supplement insurance, also known as Medigap, by providing seniors with the opportunity to compare rates, plans and benefits from several prominent insurance companies.
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