2 new doctors join Medicare advisory panel

One of MedPAC's newest physician members brings a small-practice doctor's perspective on federal reimbursement to the group.

By David Glendinning, AMNews staff. June 12, 2006.

Washington -- The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission last month welcomed two new physicians to its ranks to replace another two doctors whose terms had expired.

Ronald D. Castellanos, MD, a urologic surgeon in Cape Coral, Fla., and Karen R. Borman, MD, a general surgeon and professor in Jackson, Miss., will serve on the panel for three years. The group of 17 MedPAC members makes recommendations to lawmakers on how to set reimbursement rates for the program. Commission reports often form the starting point for congressional legislation affecting doctors and other Medicare participants.

The nominations of the physicians, who join the three doctors who are continuing their service on the commission, was praised by American Medical Association President J. Edward Hill, MD. "Drs. Karen Borman and Ronald Castellanos are both highly regarded physicians who have served the profession well, and we look forward to working with them in their new role as MedPAC commissioners," he said in a statement.

AMNews recently spoke with Dr. Castellanos about his appointment.

Question: Why were you chosen to join the commission?

Answer: If you look at the 17 commission members, what you see is that they really have a diverse background. What [U.S. Comptroller General] David Walker does is go out and try to get people from a diverse background representing the medical community, academicians and consumers. Where I'm coming from is the practicing physician's viewpoint. I'm not associated with a large university, just like 85% of the physicians in the United States.