Medicare Adjustment Could Boost San Diego Doctor Reimbursements By $50 Million
The county had been classified as "rural," meaning doctors were receiving much less from Medicare than health care providers in such cities as San Francisco. Some hope the change in Medicare payments will make the area more attractive for doctors.
The San Diego Union-Tribune:
Medicare Pay To Increase For SD Docs
Medicare pays San Diego doctors $12.33 less for a 15-minute office visit than it pays their peers in San Francisco. A broken arm set in Orange County brings a doctor $47.99 more, despite the work being exactly the same. This disparity, caused by Medicare designating San Diego County a “rural” locality, has long been a thorn to the region’s 7,000 or so doctors. (Sisson, 3/14)