Where Have All the Doctors Gone? Medicare Physician Payment Cuts Threaten Patient Access to Quality Care
The author calls on Congress to address reimbursement shortfalls that are contributing to a growing physician shortage, with rural areas the hardest hit.
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In a perfect world, a patient would be able to book timely appointments close to home and not worry about potential delays in treatment. In reality, however, many Americans might not be able to access the care they need when they need it.
So, what are policymakers doing to fix this problem? Not much.
In fact, according to the American Medical Association, Medicare has slashed reimbursement to doctors by a
Continuing down this path is unstainable. Medicare must compensate our trusted doctors fairly to preserve their vital role in keeping our communities safe. Fortunately, Congress has taken a promising first step to pass bipartisan legislation that alleviates some of the latest round of payment cuts that went into effect earlier this year.
But beyond partially rolling back the latest cuts, legislators must work together to reform the broader Medicare physician payment system that comes up short in valuing the hard work of America’s doctors. In fact, year after year, doctors remain the only Medicare providers who fail to receive annual payment updates tied to inflation. Short of comprehensive Medicare payment reform, the
Patients nationwide rely on the exceptional care provided by their local doctors. Unless Congress takes action, local physician practices nationwide will continue to grapple with financial challenges that make it harder to meet our nation’s need for care. Small, independent, community practices will be especially hard-pressed to stay afloat. If doctor’s offices are forced to close, patients like you and me may soon be wondering: “Where have all the doctors gone?”
Author Information
Terry Wilcox is executive director,
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