Doctors Angry as Medicare Meltdown Looms

The following statement can be attributed to C. Bruce Malone, MD, president of the Texas Medical Association. Thirty-one days from now – Jan. 1, 2012 – physicians’ Medicare payments could be slashed more than 27 percent, jeopardizing access to care for millions of Medicare patients. TMA physicians are extremely worried about how this decade-old issue could affect their patients. Physician groups nationwide are asking Congress to fix the problem. However, there is no indication of a solution.

“It makes us [doctors] angry that Congress puts us and patients in this position. We love our Medicare patients and want to continue to care for them.

“Yet in 30 days, our Medicare payments could drop below the cost of providing their care. Doctors have no choice but to consider limiting the number of Medicare patients they see. No doctor wants that to happen. Our Medicare patients and military families deserve better.”

Extra Links: 

• TMA survey: 50 percent of Texas physicians are considering opting out of the Medicare program altogether.
• NEW video: Unique look at the Medicare crisis – from a child’s perspective.
• Video: In-depth explanation of the Medicare Meltdown. (Please note: The size of the Medicare cut decreased slightly since this video was created.)