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It Begins: Medicare Patients See Long Waits for Doctors
Verum Serum ^ | November 26, 2010 | John Sexton

Posted on 11/27/2010 7:17:28 AM PST by SumProVita

From the right-wing extremists at the Washington Post:

Want an appointment with kidney specialist Adam Weinstein of Easton, Md.? If you’re a senior covered by Medicare, the wait is eight weeks.

How about a checkup from geriatric specialist Michael Trahos? Expect to see him every six months: The Alexandria-based doctor has been limiting most of his Medicare patients to twice yearly rather than the quarterly checkups he considers ideal for the elderly. Still, at least he’ll see you. Top-ranked primary care doctor Linda Yau is one of three physicians with the District’s Foxhall Internists group who recently announced they will no longer be accepting Medicare patients.

“It’s not easy. But you realize you either do this or you don’t stay in business,” she said.

Recall that these steep cuts to Medicare reimbursement rates are the way in which the Obama administration was able to claim that a) Obamacare cost less than a trillion dollars and b) it would bend the cost curve. In fact, the administration now has a stark choice between instituting the “doc fix” which would rescind the Medicare cuts or welcoming in the era of decreased access and rationing via long wait times. They don’t have long. The rate cuts to Medicare reimbursement are set to begin December 1st.

(Excerpt) Read more at verumserum.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: bloggersandpersonal; healthcare; medicare; obamacare; romney; romney4obamacare; romneycare; romneydeathpanels
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Do you think this will begin to wake up a few more people?
1 posted on 11/27/2010 7:17:32 AM PST by SumProVita
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To: SumProVita

Will seniors still be able to get health care if they simply pay the doctors in cash?


2 posted on 11/27/2010 7:21:47 AM PST by pnh102 (Regarding liberalism, always attribute to malice what you think can be explained by stupidity. - Me)
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To: SumProVita

My doc says every 6 months. I say “when I get sick or my blood pressure changes from “my norm”.


3 posted on 11/27/2010 7:23:01 AM PST by Sacajaweau
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To: pnh102

The physicians cannot accept cash from those patients. If they do they will be fined. Second offense means prison. Nice, huh?


4 posted on 11/27/2010 7:25:36 AM PST by ladyjane
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To: SumProVita
The rate cuts to Medicare reimbursement are set to begin December 1st.

Like always, the rate cuts will be waived. The joke is that the CBO figures to calculate the costs of Obamacare had to assume that the cuts were going to made even though everyone knew that they never are implemented.

5 posted on 11/27/2010 7:27:09 AM PST by kabar
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To: ladyjane
The physicians cannot accept cash from those patients. If they do they will be fined. Second offense means prison. Nice, huh?

But there's no death panels!

6 posted on 11/27/2010 7:29:06 AM PST by pnh102 (Regarding liberalism, always attribute to malice what you think can be explained by stupidity. - Me)
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To: SumProVita
This article is rather disingenuous.

Most specialists, dental and medical, have waiting lists, and that has nothing to do with Medicare.

Last year, I had to see an endodonist. The earliest appointment I could get was nearly 3 months. Luckily, they had a cancellation the next week, and I got the appointment if I could get to the endodonist's office within a hour (I live 30 miles away). I took the appointment.

7 posted on 11/27/2010 7:29:26 AM PST by TomGuy
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To: SumProVita

Perhaps a few. There remains, however, a general sense of helplessness or “I may not like it, but what can one person do about it” attitude among the populace.

And, of course, that’s just what the arrogant bureaucrats want us to believe. HCAHPS - as currently structured - is the TSA of healthcare.


8 posted on 11/27/2010 7:31:44 AM PST by troublesome creek
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To: ladyjane

I’ll be eligible for Medicare next year. What if I don’t sign up and keep my private insurance plan...?


9 posted on 11/27/2010 7:32:05 AM PST by Victor (If an expert says it can't be done, get another expert." -David Ben-Gurion, the first Prime Minister)
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To: pnh102
For now they can pay cash for service anywhere (if they can afford it). One additional concern: many medicare members have additional private insurance. Those private payers consider medicare the primary coverage, so you have to file for medicare reimbursement first. Then they pick up the balance(yes there are copays in medicare--it is not all "free.") If your doctor doesn't take medicare, how are you supposed to file? And trust me, the private carrier won't be sympathetic.
10 posted on 11/27/2010 7:33:06 AM PST by hinckley buzzard
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To: SumProVita

How is this not a blog?


11 posted on 11/27/2010 7:33:49 AM PST by BunnySlippers (I love BULL MARKETS . . .)
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To: SumProVita

I’ve read a few articles recently that said the same thing they are not accepting new medicare patients think how bad that will get as more people join the program yikes.


12 posted on 11/27/2010 7:36:44 AM PST by FromLori (FromLori)
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To: TomGuy

“I got the appointment if I could get to the endodonist’s office within a hour (I live 30 miles away). I took the appointment.”

...that happens with me a lot too...luckily, I’m retired and can drop everything and jump in the car....health care professionals all seem so busy these days...you take what you can get...and btw, because I know my face time with the doc is tightly scheduled; I take a list of questions in with me....worse thing in the world is to remember that I forgot to ask him something on the drive home.


13 posted on 11/27/2010 7:37:29 AM PST by STONEWALLS
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To: Victor
You will start getting mailings in the near future from all sorts of insurance companies explaining the rules. Basically, though you are not required to sign up, you need to sign up within three months of your 65th birthday or it becomes harder and more restrictive later on. Right now anyone who can afford the premiums should probably sign up and keep a secondary insurance. Medicare does not pay as lavishly as some people think, so Medigap plans are widespread and useful.
14 posted on 11/27/2010 7:39:03 AM PST by hinckley buzzard
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To: Victor

I really don’t know about that. What I do know is physicians face prison if they take cash or any form of payment. No wonder many of them are planning on retiring. I know some who are saving every penny they can right now because they will be quitting when the rationing gets worse.


15 posted on 11/27/2010 7:40:40 AM PST by ladyjane
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To: SumProVita

the cuts in Medicare Are already forcing practices to limit the age of new patience. The British medical system for seniors first.


16 posted on 11/27/2010 7:43:29 AM PST by King Moonracer (Bad lighting and cheap fabric, that's how you sell clothing.....)
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To: SumProVita
I sought out a more natural way of treating myself and my family years ago (I'm on Medicare), and it's saved me money in the long run, I believe. No more waiting at the doctor's office, or wasting gas/time on traveling either. If Jesus could create us, He certainly could leave us with that which would heal our minds and our bodies, so I pretty much think most (of course, not all) ailments can be cured or prevented through His sources, passing around B.O.'s.
17 posted on 11/27/2010 7:43:59 AM PST by mlizzy (Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee ...)
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To: SumProVita

I’m not medicare yet but usually have to wait 6-8 weeks to see my ob/gyn. I opted this last time for the nurse practitioner. Just have to plan ahead.


18 posted on 11/27/2010 7:46:58 AM PST by Mercat
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To: hinckley buzzard
"You will start getting mailings in the near future from all sorts of insurance companies explaining the rules. Basically, though you are not required to sign up, you need to sign up within three months of your 65th birthday or it becomes harder and more restrictive later on. Right now anyone who can afford the premiums should probably sign up and keep a secondary insurance. Medicare does not pay as lavishly as some people think, so Medigap plans are widespread and useful."

That doesn't deal with the situation of some doctors and practices not taking Medicare at all. If your doctor is one of those, the decision is much harder.

19 posted on 11/27/2010 7:50:42 AM PST by Truth29
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To: Victor
I’ll be eligible for Medicare next year. What if I don’t sign up and keep my private insurance plan...?

Your private plan may have something to say about it? Why would they continue that expense if you are elegible for Medicare?

20 posted on 11/27/2010 7:53:55 AM PST by Hattie
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