Increasingly physicians are closing their practices to new Medicare patients. We physicians can provide better longevity and quality of life for those over 65, but we can’t afford to see the patients.
The economics are simple. The reimbursement for a patient visit are less than the corresponding overhead. Consider this carefully. A Medicare only practice would cause bankruptcy. Thus, frontline physicians will have to limit their Medicare patients.
I find this situation difficult to understand completely. The finances of medicine have confounded my understanding since I finished my residency in 1978. Who makes money these days? Clearly the pharmaceutical companies have done very well (a rant on that in the near future). Diagnostic studies seem to do quite well (CT scanners, MRIs, etc.). Surgery makes money for hospitals. Thinking, considering and talking to patients has little apparent value.
This is not a new situation, but I believe it has become a critical situation. Patient care becomes more complex every year. We need excellent general internists and subspecialists who can take the time to properly care for patients. But apparently society and the insurance companies don’t value that interaction. We have not made the compelling case that excellent medical care starts with a CAREFUL consideration of the entirety of the patient. Fifteen minutes is not enough. $39 is not enough.
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1 Response to The coming Medicare crisis
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June 2nd, 2004 at 11:46 pm
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I am having difficulties with the RSS feed. In the meantime use: Medrants RSS feed I hope to have the links fixed soon. db Posted by rcentor @ 7:46 pm
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