Re: Have you encountered difficulty findings a new primary care physician,
Actually stats are showing many doctors opting out and many more planning to.
In Texas and Washington state approaching 50 percent...many other states seeing similar trends develop.
According to the AMA rate cuts in the last decade have slashed physician reimbursement rates by 40%. Practice cost increase every year, an estimated 20% this year alone. Realize that most of the cuts are made on the primary care (read Internists/Family Practitioners) docs that have the most complicated patients. How can any business stand that type of loss for a decade or more. Moreover, who wants to be in that position?
An AMA survey in 2007 showed that about 60% of nearly 9000 physicians surveyed planned to at least limit the number of new Medicare patients they accept with 40% saying they expected to limit the number of existing patients in their practices with Medicare.
When the Medicare reimbursement for an office visit is less than the cost of some large pizzas we have a major problem.
No problem getting a primary care doc in your area? You won't have to wait long to see it I'm afraid. Finding specialist to take Medicare is even now becoming a problem in areas.
All of this is occurring as the average age of the population is increasing and prepares to skyrocket. We are going to see dramatically worsening access problems for seniors across the board. Something has to change. Even The Villages is not going to be insulated from this.
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