Work to avert a Medicare payment crisis

AMA Leader Commentary. By Yank D. Coble Jr. MD. Oct. 21, 2002.

AMA LEADER COMMENTARY

A few words about current events in medical practice

SEE ARCHIVES

A message to all physicians from AMA President Yank D. Coble Jr., MD.

For months, the AMA has warned that continued cuts in Medicare payments to physicians will mean access problems for Medicare patients. Our fears have become reality. What's more, the problem will only get worse, unless Congress passes legislation that can be signed into law -- and quickly -- to prevent additional Medicare payment cuts.

Across the country, more and more physicians have come to the sad realization that accepting new Medicare patients under the current reimbursement system is a losing proposition. Two-thirds of physicians work in practices that are essentially small businesses. Payment cuts of nearly 18% over four years, at a time when medical liability costs are soaring, could put such practices out of business -- so more and more doctors feel forced to limit the number of Medicare patients they accept.

Recent surveys show the first round of drastic Medicare cuts already has had a negative impact on patient access:

• The Medicare Rights Center, a patient organization, surveyed 30 states and found that Medicare beneficiaries in more than half are having trouble finding a physician who accepts new Medicare patients.
• An AMA study found that 24% of physicians have either placed limits on the number of Medicare patients they treat or plan to institute limits in the next four to six months.
• The Academy of Family Physicians found that 22% of family physicians are no longer accepting new Medicare patients, a significant increase from the same survey done a year earlier.