Medicare Payment Cuts Postponed - Forum of the Russian American Medical Association

Boris · 03-04-2010, 11:27 AM

For those doctors who are in residency or working for an employer this may not have been a big issue, but for me in private practice with 75% of my patients on Medicare - it was huge. Senate voted to cut Medicare physicians fees by 21% as of March 1st. Now, because of the relentless efforts of groups like AMA it was postponed.

Medicare Payment Cuts Postponed

March 4, 2010

Dear Colleagues,

On March 2, the Senate voted 78-19 to pass H.R. 4691, the "Temporary Extension Act of 2010," which included provisions to extend 2009 Medicare physician payment rates through March 31, 2010. As a result, the 21% payment cut has been postponed until April 1, 2010.

The House and Senate continue to debate on the next steps that will be taken to address Medicare physician payment. A variety of proposals are being discussed that would implement still another short-term patch to the flawed sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula, including proposals that would postpone cuts for 90 days, 7 months, or through the end of 2010. The Society will continue to advocate for the permanent repeal of the SGR, and long term reforms to the Medicare physician payment system.

Thank you for your continued support.

workhard · 03-13-2010, 05:09 AM

Значит все-таки реформа состоится...
Отразится ли это на зарплате всех врачей в общем... ? Значит у вас есть время как-то модифицировать свою работу в private
practice... как бы разработать план Б.

не знаю, возможно ли это.

Dan · 03-13-2010, 10:28 PM

а есть ли практики, которые не работают с пациентами на Medicare?

ukrdoc · 03-14-2010, 12:21 AM

Я была на обзерве у семейного врача,который не принимает пациентов с Medicare ....и нормально себя чувствует. Иногда у него нет полной загружености,бывают небольшие окна между приёмами,но такое положение вещей его вполне устраивает...

Erin · 03-14-2010, 11:34 AM

Бедные пациенты с Medicare.

Dan · 03-14-2010, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Erin

Бедные пациенты с Medicare.

ну почему? всегда найдутся люди, которые будут согласны их принимать.

Igor Bulatov · 03-14-2010, 01:15 PM

Medicare cuts (21%) is not a part of Heath Care Finance reform.But it would have ripple effect on entire health care reimbursement system in the US.Private insurance industry constantly gages and adjusts reimbursement scale against medicare.If medicare goes down,all private insurances would decrease their payments to the physicians and hospitals accordingly.Premiums would stay the same or even go up to allow higher profit margin for private insurance industry.To make Wall Street and private investors even happier.
Proposed health care finance reform could not make Wall Street and private investors any happier.Since public option (medicare for all) is off the table,if finance reform passes,insurance industry would receive multibillion dollars subsidies in tax payers money to provide health care coverage for the uninsured.

LG · 03-14-2010, 09:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dan

ну почему? всегда найдутся люди, которые будут согласны их принимать.

К примеру, те, кто только начал строить свою практику и кому необходимы новые больные. Процент Medicare, при котором провайдеры чувствуют себя достаточно уверенно в плане оплаты, где то 15% от числа всех больных. Трудно сказать, сколько раз я уже слышала "спасибо" от Мedicare пациентов за то, что наша практика их принимает ( нас три новых провайдера, поэтому мы активно принимаем новых больных, работаем на корпорацию, не в частном бизнесе). При этом все чаще поднимается вопрос о том, доколе и в каком количестве мы будем принимать пресловутую страховку. Грустно.

ЗЫ. Когда я достигну возраста Medicare, у меня обязательно будет supplemental insurance.:))

Dan · 03-14-2010, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Igor Bulatov

Premiums would stay the same or even go up to allow higher profit margin for private insurance industry.To make Wall Street and private investors even happier.
.

Does it mean we should start investing in insurance companies right now?

jester · 03-28-2010, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ukrdoc

Я была на обзерве у семейного врача,который не принимает пациентов с Medicare ....и нормально себя чувствует. Иногда у него нет полной загружености,бывают небольшие окна между приёмами,но такое положение вещей его вполне устраивает...

I think you meant Medicaid... as far as I know, you can not reject Medicare patients.

ukrdoc · 03-29-2010, 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jester

I think you meant Medicaid... as far as I know, you can not reject Medicare patients.

Да нет, разговор шёл именно о Medicare...так как я была удивлена,что такое возможно, то переспрашивала...а действительно ли это страховка Medicare. Доктор сказал,что это его частная практика и он сам устанавливает здесь правила, и пока что нет никаких законов,которые заставили бы его делать иначе. У него есть несколько "старых" своих пациентов,которые уже на Medicare,но приходя к нему в клинику, платят за визит со своего кармана,и продолжают к нему ходить,потому что он хорошый доктор....

Boris · 04-20-2010, 10:03 AM

Congress Delays 21.3 Percent Cut Through End of May

Thursday, President Obama signed H.R. 4851, the Continuing Extension Act of 2010, into law. This delays the 21.3 percent Medicare payment cut until the end of May and will be applied retroactively to all physician services provided to Medicare patients in April.

The legislation passed the Senate at about 5:45 last night by a bipartisan vote of 59-38, and subsequently passed the House shortly after 8 p.m. by a bipartisan vote of 289-112. All of the Democrats in Ohio’s Congressional Delegation voted "yes," and Sen. George Voinovich, Reps. Steve LaTourette, Pat Tiberi and Mike Turner were the Republicans who voted with Democrats to extend funding for these programs. Sen. Voinovich has clearly heard the concerns of our members as he was one of three GOP Senators to vote in support of this measure. We again applaud his efforts in crossing party lines to do what is best for Ohio’s patients.

Yesterday, the hold on processing April claims that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) had placed to avoid implementing the payment cut technically expired. Since Congressional action was expected, it is likely that very few claims were actually processed at the lower payment rates. However, if claims were paid at the lower rate, they will be reprocessed automatically without any action required from physicians.

During this reprieve from the cuts, we will continue to work diligently with Ohio’s Congressional Delegation on a permanent solution to fix the flawed SGR.

edwardone123 · 04-27-2010, 06:41 PM

Hi I just passed USMLE Step 3 sample test provided by prometrics
(70% correct ) doesn't include CCS .Do you know any way to estimate my score on real exam ?any equation /correlation ?
Thank you very much
Edward

03-04-2010, 11:27 AM	#1
Boris RAMA Board of Directors Clinicians Group Moderator Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Cleveland, Ohio, USA Posts: 4,801	Medicare Payment Cuts Postponed For those doctors who are in residency or working for an employer this may not have been a big issue, but for me in private practice with 75% of my patients on Medicare - it was huge. Senate voted to cut Medicare physicians fees by 21% as of March 1st. Now, because of the relentless efforts of groups like AMA it was postponed. Medicare Payment Cuts Postponed March 4, 2010 Dear Colleagues, On March 2, the Senate voted 78-19 to pass H.R. 4691, the "Temporary Extension Act of 2010," which included provisions to extend 2009 Medicare physician payment rates through March 31, 2010. As a result, the 21% payment cut has been postponed until April 1, 2010. The House and Senate continue to debate on the next steps that will be taken to address Medicare physician payment. A variety of proposals are being discussed that would implement still another short-term patch to the flawed sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula, including proposals that would postpone cuts for 90 days, 7 months, or through the end of 2010. The Society will continue to advocate for the permanent repeal of the SGR, and long term reforms to the Medicare physician payment system. Thank you for your continued support. __________________ Respectfully, Boris Tiptoeing through the minefield without a minesweeper...

04-20-2010, 10:03 AM	#12
Boris RAMA Board of Directors Clinicians Group Moderator Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Cleveland, Ohio, USA Posts: 4,801	Congress Delays 21.3 Percent Cut Through End of May Thursday, President Obama signed H.R. 4851, the Continuing Extension Act of 2010, into law. This delays the 21.3 percent Medicare payment cut until the end of May and will be applied retroactively to all physician services provided to Medicare patients in April. The legislation passed the Senate at about 5:45 last night by a bipartisan vote of 59-38, and subsequently passed the House shortly after 8 p.m. by a bipartisan vote of 289-112. All of the Democrats in Ohio’s Congressional Delegation voted "yes," and Sen. George Voinovich, Reps. Steve LaTourette, Pat Tiberi and Mike Turner were the Republicans who voted with Democrats to extend funding for these programs. Sen. Voinovich has clearly heard the concerns of our members as he was one of three GOP Senators to vote in support of this measure. We again applaud his efforts in crossing party lines to do what is best for Ohio’s patients. Yesterday, the hold on processing April claims that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) had placed to avoid implementing the payment cut technically expired. Since Congressional action was expected, it is likely that very few claims were actually processed at the lower payment rates. However, if claims were paid at the lower rate, they will be reprocessed automatically without any action required from physicians. During this reprieve from the cuts, we will continue to work diligently with Ohio’s Congressional Delegation on a permanent solution to fix the flawed SGR. __________________ Respectfully, Boris Tiptoeing through the minefield without a minesweeper...

04-27-2010, 06:41 PM	#13
edwardone123 Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 1	Need consultation pls Hi I just passed USMLE Step 3 sample test provided by prometrics (70% correct ) doesn't include CCS .Do you know any way to estimate my score on real exam ?any equation /correlation ? Thank you very much Edward

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03-13-2010, 05:09 AM	#2
workhard Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 44	Значит все-таки реформа состоится... Отразится ли это на зарплате всех врачей в общем... ? Значит у вас есть время как-то модифицировать свою работу в private practice... как бы разработать план Б. не знаю, возможно ли это.

03-13-2010, 10:28 PM	#3
Dan Forum Consultant Forum Supervisor Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Chicago--->North Carolina Posts: 1,595	а есть ли практики, которые не работают с пациентами на Medicare?

03-14-2010, 12:21 AM	#4
ukrdoc Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 120	Я была на обзерве у семейного врача,который не принимает пациентов с Medicare ....и нормально себя чувствует. Иногда у него нет полной загружености,бывают небольшие окна между приёмами,но такое положение вещей его вполне устраивает...

03-14-2010, 11:34 AM	#5
Erin Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 130	Бедные пациенты с Medicare.

03-14-2010, 01:15 PM	#7
Igor Bulatov Clinicians Group Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 180	Medicare cuts (21%) is not a part of Heath Care Finance reform.But it would have ripple effect on entire health care reimbursement system in the US.Private insurance industry constantly gages and adjusts reimbursement scale against medicare.If medicare goes down,all private insurances would decrease their payments to the physicians and hospitals accordingly.Premiums would stay the same or even go up to allow higher profit margin for private insurance industry.To make Wall Street and private investors even happier. Proposed health care finance reform could not make Wall Street and private investors any happier.Since public option (medicare for all) is off the table,if finance reform passes,insurance industry would receive multibillion dollars subsidies in tax payers money to provide health care coverage for the uninsured.