Half Of Texas Doctors May Drop Medicare If Cuts Enacted, Survey Says

McClatchy:

Half of Texas physicians would consider withdrawing from the Medicare program if Congress allows a forthcoming deep cut in reimbursement payments, Texas Medical Association officials said Thursday.

The result of the cut could mean more elderly people would lose access to their doctors and have trouble finding new ones, said Dr. Bruce Malone, association president.

Read the whole story: McClatchy

Comments

[portabello]

06:42 PM on 10/11/2011

I do medical consulting and my clients stopped accepting new Medicare patients last year. All my clients are specialists and are booked months in advance.

What is happening is that physicians with healthy practices are already winding down their Medicare patients. That leaves Medicare patients with second tier physicians that need the business.

They still see Medicare patients in the hospital, but you'll have to find another doctor to follow up once you are discharged.

When a patient calls up to ask if we're accepting new patients we tell them no and give them the office numbers for Cornyn and Kay Bailey and tell them to take it up with them.

It always surprises me that about 25% of Medicare patients are willing to pay cash just to see our physicians.

[Ken Maddox]

05:15 PM on 10/09/2011

They all Republican's that have called for cuts in Medicare, and now they are screaming "Oh, No! They did exactly what we wanted them to do. I'm ruined, ruined I tell you, the government has ruined me!"

[wikwox]

04:09 PM on 10/09/2011

Emphasis on "considering". I've worked with doctors, they think all the time about money and what they want is more. But Medicare and Medicaid is far too much of the healthcare pie to ignore or just turn away, in short it's money. Doctors, hospitals and all the rest know America's healthcare system can't go on like it is and the Healthcare Reform is no white night riding to the rescue. What they really fear is the "pay your own way" system the Republicans love so much and most American loath and hate (Paul Ryan, do you hear me? ).

[thoreau101]

02:40 PM on 10/08/2011

Texas continues to be the worst state ever, with South Carolina and Alaska right behind.

Nov. 23, 1963

[Raglimidechi]

11:20 AM on 10/08/2011

Looks like a lot of seniors are going to find themselves cut off from medical care. I sure hope they know how to focus on prevention.

[getoffmedz]

05:01 PM on 10/07/2011

Which means half of Texas's doctors will be going out of business.

lol