New changes could be coming to Medicare in 2027

WATE TV Video ^ | 09/10/2026 | WATE TV Video

[Pol-92064]

New changes could be coming to Medicare in 2027, which doctors say could negatively impact patient health.

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TOPICS: Government
KEYWORDS: medicare

[Pol-92064]

This is absolutely unnecessary and is meant to make it more difficult for Medicare Recipients to get treatment. They will have to make three appointments to get one medication shot.

[Jane Long]

We saw something, recently, that Medicare Advantage would soon be NOT accepted by several systems across the country. Costs to manage are too expensive (aka time consuming for all of the paperwork/regs).

Who did not see that coming?

🙃

[tired&retired]

A nursing home in North Carolina just contacted me and requested a copy of the birth certificate or passport of a patient residing there on Medicare, to prove she is a US Citizen. I’m her POA.

[Leaning Right]

Here’s a summary of the video: The proposed Medicare change would prohibit same-day treatment for an ailment.

So if you’re diagnosed with an ailment on one day, you’ve got to come back another day for treatment of that ailment.

I would of course expect emergency treatment to be exempt from this rule.

The doctor on the video says the government thinks the change will save money. I guess that’s true. Some folks have trouble getting to a doctor once, let alone twice.

Here’s something else. Wouldn’t this proposed rule clog up doctor’s offices? Because you’d need to make not one appointment, but two.

[mewzilla]

Folks, consider the timing of this so-calked news.

A few weeks before the midterms.

Ans I’ll remind everyone that if we dont succeed in saving our republic from Deep State, Medicare won’t be the only thing people need to worry about.

[mewzilla]

If that’s an accurate summary, the people who put out that vid are full of it.

And I say that as someone with a decades long familiarity with Medicare.

[skinny old man]

This from Wate TV...

If you want another appoinment,go to hell and wate(wait)

[libertylover]

Ans I’ll remind everyone that if we dont succeed in saving our republic from Deep State, Medicare won’t be the only thing people need to worry about.

Good point.

[Leaning Right]

The doctor on the video sounds legit. But the key to the whole video is the word “proposed”. Lots of stuff gets proposed then goes nowhere.

The video seems to come from a local news source, not a national propaganda site. That’s something in its favor. I think this matter is something to keep an eye on, and nothing more.

[BobL]

Actually, as usual, you don’t get the FULL STORY on what the changes are, due to the Democrats wanting us to lose the mid-term elections, so I’ll tell you for the case of 2 services, based on the video:

1: 100% is paid for the higher cost service (such as a $1000 injection).

2. 50% would be paid for the second service (such as $200 for the office visit).

[new total: $1100, rather than $1200]

While one can argue about the level of the lower percentage, it does make sense as Medicare reimbursement rates are meant to include the office overhead in each of the two billing codes (in the above example), which is probably on the order of half of the lower cost (meaning $100).

So, if doctors (who are starting to sound like school teachers now) in the above example want to force a second visit, thereby unnecessarily tying up a time slot and adding the effort of processing a second claim (rather than simply adding a second code to one claim), to save $100...they’re welcome to. But I don’t think they will very often, particularly if they’re decent doctors with no shortage of patients.

[mewzilla]

Hurry up and wait has been going on for quite a while now in my neck of the woods.

Despite utilization rates in the toilet.

FWIW, I’d keep my powder dry on this until after the midterms.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

“ The proposed Medicare change would prohibit same-day treatment for an ailment”

Just a guess here, but this sounds like an anti-fraud measure to me.

[libertylover]

If that’s an accurate summary, the people who put out that vid are full of it.

The point of the video was probably not to be an accurate summary but to generate hate for President Trump and the Republicans. See Tagline.

[BobL]

“The proposed Medicare change would prohibit same-day treatment for an ailment.”

You might want to do your own research on this, or at least look at my post above - it is not NEARLY as bad as the Trump-haters claim.

[Bob434]

Yeah i got a Email from my surgeon informing me that there ‘may be’ changes coming which would impact my treatment- We’ll see what happens

[mewzilla]

It’s less about the docs than their health systems.

Docs who are employees of a health system do what their health system directs.

Deep State really did us in with those EMR regs in GWB’s first Porkulus.

Independent docs went the way of the dodo.

If we really want to save healthcare in this country, we need to make it so independent providers can go it alone without losing their shirts.

There’s a way.

We just need the will.

[mewzilla]

Just out of curiosity, was that letter sent by your surgeon or his health system?

[Bob434]

here was the email i received from surgeon- kinda spells out what you said too

Dear Valued Patient,

Medicare is considering significant changes for 2027 that could affect your access to orthopaedic care.

Today, when you visit your orthopaedic doctor, we do everything possible to address your needs in a single appointment. We can examine you, review your X-rays, discuss your treatment options and, when appropriate, provide treatment to help relieve your pain.

One visit. One trip.

Under the proposed changes, Medicare could reduce reimbursement for some orthopaedic care by as much as 20%, including for common procedures such as hip, knee, and shoulder replacements, while also significantly reducing payment when certain services are provided together during the same appointment. We are concerned these reductions could make it more difficult for doctors to continue providing the efficient, same-day care that patients depend on.

What sounds like a change in reimbursement could ultimately mean more appointments, more trips, longer waits, and less convenient access to care for Medicare patients.

What could these changes mean for you?

More appointments for care that can often be completed in one visit today
More copays and other costs associated with additional visits
More travel, particularly for patients who live farther from their orthopaedic doctor
More time away from work, family, and other responsibilities
Longer waits for treatment and potentially more time living with pain
Reduced access to orthopaedic specialists, particularly if declining Medicare reimbursement makes it more difficult for practices to continue caring for Medicare patients

We believe your care should be based on what is medically best for you, not on a Medicare payment policy that makes timely, efficient care more difficult to provide.

These changes have not yet been finalized, and patients have an opportunity to make their voices heard by Monday, September 14.

Please join us in asking Medicare and your elected representatives to protect seniors’ access to high-quality orthopaedic care.

[Bob434]

I think by his office- I posted it above

[mewzilla]

Note to anyone from HHS who might be lurking: If health systems and/or healthcare providers are sending out emails attempting to scare the crap out of patients before the midterms, you all might want to look into that.