| More Texas Doctors Shun Medicare Patients |
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| by Tom McGregor | Fri, Jul 4, 2008, 12:13 PM |
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In an ominous trend for baby boomers, The Houston Chronicle reports that, “only 58 percent of the doctors in the state now accept new Medicare patients, according to a recent survey by the Texas Medical Association, down from an estimated 90 percent before 1990. Among primary-care doctors, the percentage is 38 percent.” TMA leaders forecast the percentage will continue to decline if Congress doesn’t find a long-term solution soon. On Monday Congress returns from the Fourth of July holiday recess needing a short-term fix just to avoid a 10.6 percent reimbursement cut scheduled to go into effect July 15. TMA President D. Josie Williams is quoted as saying, “in my 50 years in medicine, I’ve not seen the level of frustration and anger out there now. Most doctors have got to the point that they don’t think the real problem is going to be fixed and are looking at whether to continue participating. They feel they’ve carried Medicare on their backs as long as they can.” President Dr. Tom Garcia of the Harris County Medical Society noted the similarities between Medicare and Medicaid, by referencing the even higher percentage of doctors who opt out of the government insurance program for low-income patients. To read the entire article from the Houston Chronicle, link here:
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written by Ken Dickson This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , July 05, 2008 I am amazed that more comments on this subject have not appeared! I recently had hip replacement w/cutting-edge technology from one of the best in Houston. His reimbursement was only less than $1400. vs a $35000 bill for four days @ Hermann Hospital. Certainly this is ridiculas in itself in that there was no rehab needed & I could return back to routine in less than a month. This guy needs to be adjusted upward vs. reduced just for his patients' ability to return to the workplace in minimum amount of time with no rehab other than normal exercise. This just shows the inequalities of the Medicare System as it exists... & now government wants to run the best medical care system in the country when they can't even deliver the mail. Why do so many Canadian doctors come here to practice? Because of the prospect of national healthcare like their own? I don't think so! Write comment
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