Posted on 11/30/2012 11:33:19 AM PST by Starman417
Each year, Congress holds a sword of Damocles over the heads of the medical profession. The "doc fix" is a budget adjustment to bring Medicare fees into the world of reality. democrats love to omit it for the sake of appearances.
Obamacare cuts $716 billion from Medicare. Obama calls it "waste." Physicians call it reimbursement. What that will do is make finding Medicare providers far more difficult.
The AMA supported Obamacare, on the promise that the law would include a permanent “doc fix.” But Democrats reneged on that promise, owing to the cost of a permanent SGR adjustment: something on the order of $200 billion over ten years, depending on the prescribed growth rate of the fees.Instead, the Affordable Care Act further reduced fees to health care providers, by $415 billion over the 2013-2022 time frame. As these reductions go into effect, more and more physicians are certain to stop taking new Medicare patients. We already see this problem with the Medicaid program for low-income Americans, where doctors don’t accept Medicaid patients, leading to poor health outcomes.
The Obama campaign offers several lame defenses of these cuts. “The President’s plan doesn’t cut [benefits] by one dime,” insists deputy campaign manager Stephanie Cutter. “He ends taxpayer subsidies to insurance companies, and weeds out waste, fraud, and abuse, which saves the Medicare system $716 billion.”
But Cutter’s assertion the law doesn’t cut benefits only makes sense if you don’t count getting a doctor’s appointment as a “benefit.” And her argument that the provider cuts merely amount to eliminating “waste, fraud and abuse” displays a callous disregard for how the law’s blunt, across-the-board payment reductions affect doctors like Joseph Shanahan, and seniors like Beverly Frake.
About that "free" exam Obama promised you:
If you are here for that annual exam, you will not be covered if you want to discuss any new ailment or unstable condition. I cannot bait and switch to another code — that’s illegal. We, the physicians, are audited all the time and can lose our license for insurance fraud.You, the patient, will then have to make a decision.
Do you want your “free” yearly exam, or do you want to pay for a visit which is coded for a particular, new problem? You can have my “free” exam if you only discuss what Obamacare wants me to discuss.
This happened to me personally, as a patient, when I went for my physical. It is the law. If you are complaining of a new problem, then you have to reschedule, since Obamacare is very clear as to what is covered and what is not. Obamacare — intentionally — makes it as difficult to be seen and taken care of as possible.
Patients can be very tricky. I have had patients make an “annual” exam, only to want to discuss and be treated for another ailment. I can’t do it.
I can hear the complaints from you guys already — I become the bad guy. “Why don’t you just take care of the problem, and not bill out any different code? You’re a rich doctor, and we are entitled to free stuff.”
It doesn’t work that way. First, doctors are not rich and, like most of you, actually work terribly hard for a living. Second, Obamacare is the law — and as I said earlier, we are audited all the time now.
Also — I don’t ask for free gas when I go to the gas station, or ask for free food from the supermarket. Additionally, Obamacare has a 23% cut in Medicare reimbursement to doctors and hospitals.
These lower payments won’t cover the cost of staying in practice to take care of the patient.
Sound goofy? You ain't heard nuthin' yet:
(excerpt) Read more at floppingaces.net...
“Out with the old doctors. In with the new.” - Stalin
Once again, a special middle finger to all the damn idiots who voted for Obama!!!
An office employee of mine went to the county health dept for her annual gyn exam and years supply of brand name, non generic pills, (total cost $70 by the way) she said that they asked her a ton of history questions and medications and told her that because of Obamacare they were required to ask the questions and enter it in the computer.
How do you we find Dr’s that will not participate in this outrageous violation of privacy?
Are there any challenges to the health care law for privacy issues? Wasn’t Roe v. Wade determined at least partially on right to privacy?
How can Hipa laws be passed protecting patient privacy from family members, so much that I can’t even pay a bill for my husband without his permission, but the government has the right to know everything about me?
Time to go off the grid!!
They create a crisis, then rush in pretending to fix the crisis, and impose another level of tyranny.
For a post election look at the issue, Obama Or America--Clarity On Irreconcilable Differences.
William Flax
Physicians! Go Gault, and you can defeat ObamaCare in less than 90 days.
Accept ObamaCare by participating and you guarantee yourself a lifetime of low income, massive paperwork, and frustration.
If you can’t figure out this choice you’re not smart enough to be a doctor, anyway.
Sorry...”Galt”
So despite Obama’s claims that you can see any doctor you wish, the fact is that there will be fewer doctors to choose from. Many private practices will close, to be replaced by some “clinic” where you will see a doctor who knows nothing about you and might not even speak English. That is, IF you get to see a doctor. It could be that you will be treated by a nurse practitioner or perhaps someone with little more than paramedic training. Not knocking either profession, but particularly for major issues, the results of being treated by anyone with no medical degree could be fatal.
The Obama administration has lied about this monstrosity from the beginning. Unfortunately, his followers won't know that till they actually need health care. Then it may be too late.
they’ll be paid...only to NOT practice medicine...but to fill out every piece of personal detail....on each of us.
And bend over ...
Some practices have sold themselves to hospitals to help cover the paperwork and stabilize their income. There has been a tremendous increase in hospital controlled practices but the physician still has to sit there typing the information into the computer. They can fall under the hospital’s professional liability and eliminate that worry but they will still be under the thumb of the government and the hospital.
YES....and “PREVENTIVE” which is supposed to be covered...HA...ONLY if you have NEVER, EVER had a problem before....ie...any prostate problems...NOT preventive; ever had a polyp during a colonoscopy? NOT preventive.
nobamacare = stay healthy or die
To all who voted for nobama...may you have many challenges in the future, you putzes!
Doctors should bill the AMA if that outfit supported Obamacare.
” The AMA supported Obamacare, on the promise that the law would include a permanent “doc fix.” But Democrats reneged on that promise”
So does the AMA still support Obamacare now?
So if they find something “new” with the “free exam”.... it’s no longer covered??
in calif you already see the foreign drs and its getting worse i guess i will refuse to precipitate in nobamacare, make all my cash liquid
YEP!!!
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