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Doctors look to Congress as Medicare fee decrease looms
The Connecticut Mirror ^ | November 30, 2012 | Ana Radelat

Posted on 12/01/2012 8:53:04 AM PST by ExxonPatrolUs

Washington -- Unless Congress acts soon, the New Year will bring plenty of misery for Connecticut's doctors.

On Dec. 31, a temporary measure known as the "doc fix" will expire, resulting in a 30 percent decrease in fees to all doctors who treat patients through Medicare, the government-run health program for the elderly, and active and retired members of the military who are covered under the government's TRICARE program.

"This would basically result in a collapse of our ability to provide care," said John Foley, a cardiologist in Norwich and president of the Connecticut State Medical Society.

Foley said that 37 percent to 40 percent of Connecticut's doctors would stop treating Medicare and TRICARE patients if their fees are slashed.

That would affect many in the state. Connecticut has more than 563,000 Medicare beneficiaries and more than 50,000 active and retired members of the military and their families who are covered by TRICARE.

The perennial panic over the "doc fix" is the result of a formula created by Congress in 1997 that calculated increases in Medicare and TRICARE physician payments on the overall economic growth of the nation. But there's one big problem with this approach: Health care costs have outpaced the nation's economic growth, leaving a multi-billion-dollar shortfall in payments to doctors.

So every year, and sometimes every few months, Congress must appropriate additional money to pay doctors.

Foley, and most fellow physicians, are frustrated by Congress' short-term solutions. They say it's hard to run a business with the uncertainty.

"Congress...tends to kick the can down the road, and we don't want another six- or 12-month [doc fix]," Foley said.

The blame, Foley said, is "poor leadership in Congress."

American Medical Association Executive Vice President James Madara called the short-term solutions a "zombie fix."

"It keeps on coming back from the dead each year in worse and worse form... and you go through that year after year, and you're uncertain, it puts practices at risk and frankly puts our elderly at risk," he said.

Rep. Joe Courtney, D-2nd District, and other lawmakers are pressing for a permanent solution to the problem. They are backing a bill, introduced by Rep. Allyson Schwartz, D-Pa., that would freeze doctors' pay for one year, then give them annual raises for the next four years.

During that time, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services would have to find a new way to pay doctors. Physicians would be penalized for ordering unnecessary tests and procedures for their patients under the plan. But the cost of the permanent doc fix would be high -- as much as $300 billion.

Courtney and other backers of the permanent fix say the money could be found in funds appropriated for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan that are likely to be left unspent as those conflicts wind down and troops are withdrawn.

Trouble is, there's a lot of competition on Capitol Hill for that pot of money.

Backers of the bill are also hopeful the permanent solution to the doctors' problems can be part of a grand compromise Congress must reach to avoid a "fiscal cliff" at the end of the year.

"The question is, can we get people to focus on this intelligent approach?" Courtney asked.

There will be few other chances to approve legislation in the current lame duck session of Congress. But some say that Congress' bitter partisan fight over spending and taxes needs no additional controversy.

Meanwhile, doctors such as Foley, who works in a practice that employs 40 people and says that at least half of his patients are on Medicare, are concerned about small practices like his being able to stay in business.

"As a state we are still lucky enough to have many small- and medium-sized practices," he said. "But for how long?"


TOPICS: Chit/Chat
KEYWORDS: congress; doc; fix; medicare
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Doc Fix = Campaign Fund Protection Racket
1 posted on 12/01/2012 8:53:12 AM PST by ExxonPatrolUs
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To: ExxonPatrolUs

If you kind of line them up...the bankers, the Wall Street crowd, the doctors, the medical business folks....everyone with money on the bad end of the business situation right now....need to line up and pay campaign fund boxes. Both 2013 and 2014 ought to be banner years as folks get lots of cash to influence the 2014 election.


2 posted on 12/01/2012 8:57:22 AM PST by pepsionice
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To: ExxonPatrolUs

It looks more and more that conservatives will get far more of what they want if the fiscal cliff happens, then if the Republicans compromise on anything.

In this case, for those people truly dependent on Medicare, they will quickly be shifted to Medicaid. However, for people of means, it means that they will have to pick up the tab for their own medical care.

Importantly, if people pay for their own medical care, the *price* of that medical care quickly drops by about 50% or more, which is currently consumed by the Medicare *system*.

Harsh, but important medicine, to get people to realize that Medicare is costing a LOT more than it is providing.


3 posted on 12/01/2012 9:07:02 AM PST by yefragetuwrabrumuy (Pennies and Nickels will NO LONGER be Minted as of 1/1/13 - Tim Geithner, US Treasury Sect)
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To: ExxonPatrolUs

Wait, weren’t the cost savings in Obamacare predicated on this rate cut? If so, then let it stand. Let people start feeling what they have wrought. More importantly, let their representatives get an earful.


4 posted on 12/01/2012 9:11:58 AM PST by rbg81
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To: ExxonPatrolUs

Sheesh, Dr. Foley. Just sell the Bentley and house in Greenwich. You’ll be fine.

JK, folks.


5 posted on 12/01/2012 9:17:16 AM PST by ProtectOurFreedom
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To: ExxonPatrolUs

I heard Pelosi on FNC yesterday say that Barry and the ‘RATS can stick it to America because they “won” and “elections have consequences”. It appears the ditz has gone over the edge. Unreal.


6 posted on 12/01/2012 9:17:57 AM PST by FlingWingFlyer (Don't tax me bro! Tax that guy over there!)
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To: ExxonPatrolUs
using a round number, basically this is how it works as it is now...

Diagnostic Laparoscopy = $1000

No Insurance, you pay $1000

top tier insurance like Blue Cross says,
Yeah it's worth $1000 but we give you so much business that you will take an adjustment of $150 and a write off of $100 and we'll pay you $750

Medicare says,
We don't think it's worth $1000, we only think it's worth $750 but, since we give you so much business you will take an adjustment of $150 and a write off of $100 and we'll pay you $500

Medicaid says,
We don't care what it costs, because we give you so much business we'll give you $250 or you can't treat Medicaid patients anymore.

now, cut that number and see how many Doc's will STILL treat them...

7 posted on 12/01/2012 9:24:29 AM PST by Chode (American Hedonist - *DTOM* -ww- NO Pity for the LAZY)
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To: ExxonPatrolUs

Can we just overwhelm the system already so President Cloward-Piven can commence with William Ayers’ plan to murder 10% of the US population to show us who’s boss?


8 posted on 12/01/2012 9:29:03 AM PST by E. Pluribus Unum (Labor unions are the Communist Party of the USA.)
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To: ExxonPatrolUs

Republicans should refuse to implement the doctor fix, this was part of the funding for Obamacare. Republicans should hang it around his neck.


9 posted on 12/01/2012 9:33:29 AM PST by wfu_deacons
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To: Chode
:Medicaid says, We don't care what it costs, because we give you so much business we'll give you $250 or you can't treat Medicaid patients anymore."

Being sarcastic of course, say the good doctor can do two procedures in one hour of actual work time, At the Medicaid rate of $250 per procedure as in the example, that good doctor would be paid $500 per hour by the program with the lowest reimbursement rate. Just something to think about.

10 posted on 12/01/2012 9:39:23 AM PST by buckalfa (Nabob of Negativity)
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To: yefragetuwrabrumuy
for those people truly dependent on Medicare, they will quickly be shifted to Medicaid. However, for people of means, it means that they will have to pick up the tab for their own medical care

To qualify for Medicaid in Ohio you cannot have more than 1500 dollars to your name including all assets. If you have a car, much less a house, however humble, you can't have medicaid. By your reasoning, if you have a car worth two grand, you are a "person of means" who can "pick up the tab for your own health care."

Yeah, reality isn't what many people think it is.

11 posted on 12/01/2012 9:42:07 AM PST by hinckley buzzard
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To: ExxonPatrolUs

Very soon the left will turn their venom towards doctors and other healthcare providers. It’s coming......


12 posted on 12/01/2012 9:42:46 AM PST by KoRn (Department of Homeland Security, Certified - "Right Wing Extremist")
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To: Chode

Physicians would be penalized for ordering unnecessary tests and procedures for their patients under the plan. But the cost of the permanent doc fix would be high — as much as $300 billion.

Two points - one, beware when the government decides what an “unnecessary” test and procedure is. When it’s the payor who decided this instead of the physician and patient rationing of care will follow and, already is with Medicare. Currently the govt. panel has announced that doctors should not do any mammograms on women for screening for breast cancer prior to age 50... unfortunately there are a lot of women with breast cancer prior to that age that will go undetected !! Also they have determined that doctors should not screen for prostate cancer...and of course that learned panel had no urologists, nor oncologists !!

Two — doctors offices are no different that any other business. They must cover expenses and turn some profit to stay in business... the profit margin in caring for a medicare patient currently is negligible to nil and when the feds cut reimbursements further doctors have two choices...refuse to see medicare patients, or close the doors...the number opting out right now is high...it will skyrocket if congress doesn’t fix this before implementation. If you have a doctor that is seeing you and taking your medicare...do not move, do not change doctors...and thank your lucky stars..and his/her office!


13 posted on 12/01/2012 9:46:23 AM PST by Froggie
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To: buckalfa
first it would really be hard do two of those in an hour even if the actual time spent looking into the patient was 30 because of time spent making sure the patient is fully prepped and sedated(even though there are preparers and an anesthesiologist) and then comes out of the anesthesia in good condition, and even if he could it would mean two separate operating rooms ready to go at the same time cause you simply can't wheel one patient out and another in like a conveyer belt

second, do you think that all goes into his pocket? try figuring Malpractice Insurance, insurance, computers, rent and utilities for his office, salaries and insurance for those that work in said office, etc into that equation... not to mention if he is still paying off doctor school loans

even at $500 an hour it goes pretty quickly since they don't operate all day every day

and yeah, that same model works on office visits too so for a $65 office visit they pay ~$15

14 posted on 12/01/2012 10:15:18 AM PST by Chode (American Hedonist - *DTOM* -ww- NO Pity for the LAZY)
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To: Froggie
agreed... also see post#14
15 posted on 12/01/2012 10:21:16 AM PST by Chode (American Hedonist - *DTOM* -ww- NO Pity for the LAZY)
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To: ExxonPatrolUs

When doctors can’t pay their malpractice insurance, the the Democrat lawyers don’t get paid - then Obama and Congress will do something. In the meantime, elderly on Medicare and retired veteran heroes on TRICARE can suffer and die for all the Democrats care.


16 posted on 12/01/2012 10:34:46 AM PST by SkyPilot
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To: KoRn
“Very soon the left will turn their venom towards doctors and other healthcare providers. It’s coming......”

That happened long ago. They were just somewhat stealth about it. If you want to know what the consequences of imposed socialism are to the moral and motivation of a society, look no further than American physicians. The only ones who are relatively happy at this point are those who have higher level hospital roles - with at least a portion of their salary paid by the administration. This isn't about being rich. Few doctors are - and that's a fact. This is about self-determination and having a reasonable expectation to benefit from years of sacrifice and hard work.

I must point out to the self-satisfied left. When you hurt others while playing out your own resentments, you create more resentment. Eventually, this game leads to bad things for everyone.

17 posted on 12/01/2012 10:34:56 AM PST by pieceofthepuzzle
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To: ExxonPatrolUs

This is going to be fixed by Obama by either..

#1 Creating a salary for a doctor and that is that.
#2 Declaring a doctor will get no more pay than XYZ.

This is why no one is becoming doctors and most are instead going into law.


18 posted on 12/01/2012 10:36:41 AM PST by A CA Guy ( God Bless America, God bless and keep safe our fighting men and women.)
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To: ExxonPatrolUs

This is going to be fixed by Obama by either..

#1 Creating a salary for a doctor and that is that.
#2 Declaring a doctor will get no more pay than XYZ.

This is why no one is becoming doctors and most are instead going into law.


19 posted on 12/01/2012 10:36:41 AM PST by A CA Guy ( God Bless America, God bless and keep safe our fighting men and women.)
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To: A CA Guy
The “right” to healthcare does not require a doctor to work for free.
20 posted on 12/01/2012 10:55:57 AM PST by SC DOC
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