Wednesday, December 08, 2010
West Virginia Physicians Face Possible Medicare Cut
WEST VIRGINIA....
Starting January 1st, West Virginia physicians face a 25 percent pay cut from Medicare. Leaders of AARP West Virginia and the state chapter of the American Medical Association say it's a cut that will force some doctors to drop the government-funded insurance program, and jeopardize health-care access to more than 371,000 residents. Payments to doctors who treat Medicare patients and military patients are based on the Sustainable Growth Rate formula, which is tied to national economic indicators. West Virginia has the nation's highest proportion of Medicare recipients, with nearly one in five residents receiving benefits. About 82 percent of AARP members covered by Medicare are concerned that they will have to find a new physician if their current doctor drops the insurance plan. The state has 12 practicing physicians for every 1,000 Medicare recipients, one of the country's worst ratios.
Starting January 1st, West Virginia physicians face a 25 percent pay cut from Medicare. Leaders of AARP West Virginia and the state chapter of the American Medical Association say it's a cut that will force some doctors to drop the government-funded insurance program, and jeopardize health-care access to more than 371,000 residents. Payments to doctors who treat Medicare patients and military patients are based on the Sustainable Growth Rate formula, which is tied to national economic indicators. West Virginia has the nation's highest proportion of Medicare recipients, with nearly one in five residents receiving benefits. About 82 percent of AARP members covered by Medicare are concerned that they will have to find a new physician if their current doctor drops the insurance plan. The state has 12 practicing physicians for every 1,000 Medicare recipients, one of the country's worst ratios.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 11:42 PM 
