Does anyone know the current status of Medicare cuts, 21%?

[RKP5637]

Does anyone know the current status of Medicare cuts. One of my friends just got a letter from his rheumatologist saying dropping all Medicare patients is under consideration because they can not cover costs because of the cuts to Medicare. And to be prepared to find another doctor.

I've been trying to find some good sources for more information for them, but it seems to be all over the place as to the status when I search for more information on the internet.

Any links would be helpful.

Thanks!

[sandnsea]

1. Scare tactics

All kinds of groups are doing this to the seniors. A friend just complained that his grandfather is getting all kinds of threatening letters about social security and medicare. I don't know when these doctors and hospitals are going to figure out that the people are tapped out.

[DURHAM D]

2. I wonder about the source?

I am on SS & Medicare - haven't gotten anything.

Probably some private insurance scam. When I was signing up for Medicare last year I got stacks of shit from private insurers trying to look like official government mailings.

[sandnsea]

5. Political I think

He donates to a disabled veterans group and I think they send him stuff. Probably sell his name and address too. Groups did it during the census too. It's a shame.

[DURHAM D]

3. Well, like I said to my Orthopedic doctor last week -

I looked around your waiting room and if you didn't take Medicare you would not have any patients at all. She laughed and said - that's right and going forward we expect that to be even more true except for the college football players.

[RKP5637]

4. That's what I found weird, the letter was from his rheumatologist. Lots of

older people have rheumatoid problems and are on Medicare. The letter then went off to say his doctor was possibly going to offer some type of direct pay plan for seniors on Medicare if he dropped Medicare patients. He also wanted his patients to write their senators protesting any reduction in Medicare payments. The whole thing sounded like a scare tactic to me as some other posters have mentioned.

It annoyed me. The last thing someone under care for arthritis wants to hear is their doctor might drop them because they have Medicare.

[golfguru]

6. I am shocked my doctor has'nt dropped me after I see

how little Medicare pays of the doctor's charges.

[jtown1123]

7. Cuts to Medicare are because of the payment reimbursement formula a

Republican Congress enacted in the late '90s. This has ZERO to do with health care reform and happens every year. The SGR formula is ridiculous. The Democrats wanted this broken payment system fixed in the new health care law but Republicans refused to let that happen.

http://takingnote.tcf.org/2010/04/myths-facts-about-health-care-reform-doctors-who-take-medicare-.html

This is a serious problem that needs to be addressed but please do not let anyone convince you or your friends that this is a result of HCR. That is a flat out lie.

[RKP5637]

8. Thanks for info. n/t