Impeding changes to our Health Care system

[classicman]

I think those numbers are mileading (yeh me questioning the gov't) The issue is more of how many are accepting NEW patients not just those who participate.

Now that I think about it, I wonder what the gov't definition of "participate" is.

This part of that article is

Dr. John Hagan, a Kansas City-area ophthalmologist, offers a unique perspective. "I can speak to both sides of this," he said.

As many as 75% of patients at his group practice are Medicare beneficiaries who are treated for problems such as glaucoma or undergo cataract surgery. And if payment rates are cut 21%, after already being reduced to about half the going $1,200 rate for cataract surgery and care in Missouri, Hagan said he won't be able to see more Medicare patients because he won't be able to cover his expenses.

But Hagan himself became Medicare-eligible this month -- and he's nervous. "If I accept Medicare for myself and my wife, I'm fearful I won't be able to stay with my cardiologist and my wife won't be able to stay with her physicians," he said.

Hagan has elected not to enroll in Medicare. Instead, he's paying extra out of pocket for his company's insurance coverage.

"At some point I won't want to work," said Hagan. "At that time, I will be on Medicare, and I am scared to death."

**bold mine**

[piercehawkeye45]

Originally Posted by classicman

I think those numbers are mileading (yeh me questioning the gov't) The issue is more of how many are accepting NEW patients not just those who participate.

I'm guessing most numbers will be misleading. The government, assuming it is somewhat political, will want to make it seem like a less of a problem while the AARP, and similar groups, will want to exaggerate the data.

But yes, Medicare is going to be a large problem. From almost every article I've read, treating Medicare patients a lot of times results in zero profit. Many doctors are accepting this zero profit because they morally are not going to drop existing patients. Others are dropping patients or at least not accepting new ones. But yet, I don't know if that zero or negative profit are exceptions or across the board.