[rshoffer]

Will this be a growing trend?

http://www.firstreportnow.com/articl...-hold-medicare

[Number 6]

That article quoted primary care office visits from $175 to $400 What primary physican that you know charges that much? Because it is Mayo, it is a special case. This will not spread much unless the March 1 21.5% cut comes to be. Then many physicians will drop Medicare.

[Karen83]

There are some internists in the Orlando area who have already refused to take medicare patients, and I don't blame them one bit. Even the word "Provider" irks me....they have earned an M.D. degree, not a provider degree!!

[Number 6]

Not everyone who provides (excuse that) billable services to Medicare are MDs. There are DOs, NPs, PAs, ODs. well the list goes on. "Provider" is a generic term used to describes them.

[Karen83]

Those individual professions are not all the same with the same responsibilities and should not be grouped together under one generic and in my opinion, demeaning terminology. They all worked long and hard for their individual degrees and should be given the respect they deserve by being recognized for their own achievements.

This provider terminology started with Hillary's first attempt at health care reform. I think there was a well thought out reason for it and it fits right in with what Obama is trying to shove down our throats.

Yes, I do have a personal interest in this since both my husband and I are in the medical field and are sickened by what is happening to our professions. I am also sickened by what is happening to me as a patient. There are no winners in this fiasco!

(I guess since I mentioned Obama's name, this will be moved to political)

[dillywho]

Mayo in Jacksonville does take Medicare patients. Unless they have changed in the last 2 years, they do not accept Medicare or any other insurance, though. They will, however, file the Medicare papers which Medicare then forwards to your supplemental insurance carrier. They will fill in their part of a generic insurance form and send it to you. Medicare and/or your insurance pays you direct and you, in turn, pay Mayo. I received checks from both Medicare and my supplement and paid Mayo myself; and no, it did not cover the entire bill.