Most seniors have never heard of the acronym SGR that in healthcare parlance means Sustainable Growth Rate.<\/p>\n
The wisdom of congress passed this particular piece of legislation in 1997.\u00a0 Its purpose was to control the cost of Medicare through a complex formula that controlled escalating costs.<\/p>\n
The problem is simple; it doesn\u2019t work and has really never worked.\u00a0 Congress however, has never been able to come to grips with it and continues to pass \u201ckick the can down the road\u201d legislation rather than fixing it.\u00a0 In 2010 alone, the proverbial can was kicked five times.<\/p>\n
We now find ourselves staring down the barrel of a gun once again.\u00a0 If congress doesn\u2019t act by the end of March, Medicare reimbursements to doctors will be cut by 21%.<\/p>\n
What does this mean?\u00a0 Docs won\u2019t be happy, in fact they have about had it with Medicare as evidenced by a growing group of them who will no longer accept Medicare.<\/p>\n
A colleague of ours voiced his thoughts recently.\u00a0 It went something like this\u2026.\u201dI began to accept Medicare even though I felt their reimbursement rate was low and didn\u2019t properly compensate me for my time and expenses.\u00a0 However, they paid promptly and didn\u2019t harass me with a million questions about why I used one treatment versus another\u201d He has since changed his mind.\u00a0 His comments now complain that reimbursement, which was never fair, has been reduced.\u00a0 He now receives letters from Medicare questioning his judgment, and he is facing not just another cut, but a long delay in receiving anything.\u00a0 He has had it and will not longer accept Medicare patients.<\/p>\n
If congress fails to act (again) by March 31st<\/sup>, doctor\u2019s treating Medicare patients will face a 21% reduction in their reimbursement rate.\u00a0 Could you afford a 21% pay cut.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Most seniors have never heard of the acronym SGR that in healthcare parlance means Sustainable Growth Rate. The wisdom of congress passed this particular piece of legislation in 1997.\u00a0 Its purpose was to control the cost of Medicare through a … Continue reading