As Congress and the White House continue to debate how to reduce federal debt and raise the government's debt ceiling before a doomsday deadline of August 2, organized medicine wonders whether the outcome will include the "doc fix" to the Medicare reimbursement crisis for which it has pled.
At least one deal on the table — the plan from the bipartisan "Gang of Six," composed of 3 Republican and 3 Democratic senators — gives physicians what they want, or does it? Every year the physicians are threatened with notorious SGR formula (sustained growth rate) for reimbursement under the Medicare Program. On January 1, 2012 the “chopping board” will trigger a whopping 29.5% pay cut, unless the Congress acts on it now to avert it. The big question is would it be averted? With our politicians playing “dirty politics” it is likely that this issue will likely get least attention when the country is on the verge of defaulting. The “gang of six” may have it included in the current debt ceiling negotiations but how likely is it to pass with the provisions of “doc fix”.
How does Medicare (whose chief says Medicare is just another insurance company and the seniors are just its beneficiaries) expect the doctors to continue providing services to its beneficiaries with its HMO tactics and the “chopping block”? Technology is expensive and quality (that all of us have come to expect) costs money. While we all want quality health care as our birth rights (just like food, water and shelter) who is willing to pay for such quality? Medicare cuts and HMO tactics is not the solution to provide cheap and quality care. While the rest of the Nation is disgusted with HMO’s, Alaska is gearing up for a major HMO style managed care as the Hospitals and some Insurance companies look at this moment (under cover of National Health Care Debate) as a prime opportunity to ratchet down on the Providers in this State that has been long resisted by the independent spirit of the doctors who call this State their home………. Yes, it can happen in Alaska as the older generation of free spirited physicians phase out and the newer X- Generation of physicians look for an easy life style.
I constantly hear from my senior patients the question that why the Government has to force them into a “health insurance” (Medicare) that does not work for them or majority of the seniors. Why can’t they OPT-OUT of Medicare and keep the health plan that they have contributed into all their lives and the plan that works well for them?
Why should the Government have a problem with it if Medicare is “just another insurance company” as claimed by the chief of CMS, Dr. Donald Berwick? The ex- Harvard health care safety and efficiency advocate who now heads Medicare and Medicaid in Washington, told health insurance executives in Washington during his first speech that he does not advocate rationing or major "top down'' government solutions to transform the health care system but on the other hand said he'll "play tough" with those who resist a change.
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