I do not know enough about this to give an informed comment, but I do know that the amount of money that the paltry sums that physicians are forced to take under Medicare rules is insulting to them.
I said this elsewhere ...
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You should see the “billings” now with payments to doctors ... they bill (for example, a cardiologist) a little over $200. I saw that come through the other day. Then Medicare tells the cardiologist that he’s only approved for somewhere around $80 or $90 of that original bill of over $200.
He has to accept that as “full payment” for Medicare payment and he cannot bill the patient anything more than what Medicare says it will pay - and “write off” the remainder of his bill. His only “other” option is to simply no longer take Medicare patients.
NOW, imagine all those doctors out there ... being told that on top of the over $200 bill, being knocked down to $80 or $90 ... tonight at midnight, that bill is knocked down another 21%.
About that time doctors are going to be tellng Medicare patients to “Get lost!” ... :-) ...
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The doctors have to accept the “approved amount” that is what Medicare says they should charge, no matter what they do charge - normally - to ALL their patients. And then Medicare pays only a “portion” of that approved amount. I’m amazed that doctors even accept Medicare patients as it is, right now!