Article

2010-05-18 Economy

Texas doctors opting out of Medicare at alarming rate

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Posted by Beavis 2010-05-18 13:39|| || Front Page|| [11134 views ] Top

#1 I hold the AMA's poor negotiating strategy responsible for this. I predict their "support" for Obamacare will more grievously wound the AMA than the Sunbeam debacle.

Posted by Glomock Tojo6610 2010-05-18 15:27|| 2010-05-18 15:27|| Front Page Top

#2 The issue caused the Texas Medical Association to break ranks with the American Medical Association and oppose health care reform efforts throughout 2009.

Good for Texas. AMA has only about 20% of the countries physicians. AMA represents physicians about like the AARP represents seniors.

Posted by JohnQC 2010-05-18 15:50|| 2010-05-18 15:50|| Front Page Top

#3 Medicare patients make up such a large fraction of all patients that this really can't be done on widespread basis. Doctors need patients, too.

Posted by Anguper Hupomosing9418 2010-05-18 16:01|| 2010-05-18 16:01|| Front Page Top

#4 Oh, it can be done on a large scale basis, one doctor at a time. Nothing says they have to do business on a money losing basis. And medicare payments are too close to that. Look for more and more doctors to go out of system all together. The good ones have been for 10 years, fed up with the interference of insurance companies in their practice of medicine.

Posted by Nimble Spemble 2010-05-18 16:08|| 2010-05-18 16:08|| Front Page Top

#5 That's true. Many doctors' practices have a high number of elders. Oncology doctors, gerontologists, and many other specialties rely on senior patients.

Posted by JohnQC 2010-05-18 16:11|| 2010-05-18 16:11|| Front Page Top

#6 Doctors can't serve patients if said doctors are forced to provide services to patients below their own cost.

Posted by AzCat 2010-05-18 16:27|| 2010-05-18 16:27|| Front Page Top

#7 This was predicted prior to Obamacare, which is making things even worse with 580 BILLION in Medicare cuts.

Posted by OldSpook 2010-05-18 16:28|| 2010-05-18 16:28|| Front Page Top

#8 Merck Pharmaceutical I understand is cutting help at this time. This is sad as they for years have been the backbone of our medical needs. Cuts in Medicare were to show savings under new program. So other medical insurers will do just as Medicare. Reasonable and customary charges and patient 20%.

Posted by Dale 2010-05-18 16:41|| 2010-05-18 16:41|| Front Page Top

#9 I'm sure the elderly will be able to get all the care they want from their doctors... but by paying cash out of pocket instead of just Medicare copayments. The thing is -- and I hope someone in the medical field will be able to confirm or refute what I've read -- in enough cases it's actually cheaper for the doctor to provide care if he doesn't have to support the Medicare/Medicaid/insurance system (waiting for months to find out how much the partial payment will be, paying the salaries of support staff to deal with Medicare/Medicaid/insurance companies, etc.). If that's the case, all except the very poorest will find themselves ahead in terms of the care they get, although patients will have less discretionary income because they're paying the full freight for their treatment.

Posted by trailing wife 2010-05-18 17:01|| 2010-05-18 17:01|| Front Page Top

#10 tw: The standard cost savings to doctors is so great, if they refuse Medicare/Medicaid/Insurance, that typically they can charge patients 50% less, and still make more money.

At that point, their biggest expense is their own malpractice insurance. If they could ditch most of that, medical care would be downright cheap.

Posted by Anonymoose 2010-05-18 18:13|| 2010-05-18 18:13|| Front Page Top

#11 In Canada Doctors are contracting with individuals directly. I believe this could happen here but government bulling will squash that I believe. Exit plans are being reviewed now. In truth Doctors are a good bit sharper than the average person. The frog in the hot water is cooked but a toe dip first in the water makes his next move clearer.

Posted by Dale 2010-05-18 18:47|| 2010-05-18 18:47|| Front Page Top

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