Decreased Medicare Payments Could Cause Physician Pullout, Survey Finds

Sixty percent of physician respondents to a California Medical Association survey released Tuesday said they would stop accepting new Medicare patients if Medicare payments to doctors are reduced as scheduled, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports. The survey also found that 40% of respondents said they would no longer participate in Medicare if reimbursements are cut.

The survey, which was sent to 23,000 CMA members, had 490 respondents.

Changes to the Medicare physician payment plan include a 4.3% cut in 2006 and further decreases for the next several years. The proposed cuts are based on a formula that Congress uses to determine their payments. Physicians groups are urging legislators to change the formula (Skidmore, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8/17).