Tell Sen. Burr to change Medicare cutback vote
This past week the Senate voted not to stop the 10.6 percent cut to Medicare providers beginning July 1, and a subsequent 5.4 percent cut in January. The laughable title of Bill HR 6331 is “Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008.” Senator Burr (R-NC) voted to allow the cuts.
The bill failed by one vote and will come up for a final vote after the July 4 recess. If the cuts go into effect, it will be even more difficult for Medicare patients to find physicians to care for them.
For several years, doctors got a mere one percent increase in reimbursements. The cost of practicing medicine has gone up far more than that. The formula on which the cuts were based was not only seriously flawed, it was stupid.
I urge any patient receiving Medicare benefits to call Senator Burr and urge him to change his vote. Write him now or call him later when you can’t find a physician to care for you. Maybe he will get up in the middle of the night to take out your gallbladder. Contact him at http://burr.senate.gov
Stuart Glassman, M.D., F.A.C.S.
Hendersonville
Comments (2)
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"If the cuts go into effect, it will be even more difficult for Medicare patients to find physicians to care for them.
For several years, doctors got a mere one percent increase in reimbursements. The cost of practicing medicine has gone up far more than that."
Mr. Glassman, are you telling us that government funded health care is poorly administered?
All it needs is 'more funding', right?
Posted on July 4, 2008 8:28 AM
Dr. Glassman,
Are you one of those physicians that won't accept older patients because they are under Medicare or private Medicare replacement insurance? This is a growing problem in Guilford County; finding a physician that will treat you if you are over age 65. Even though you have insurance, they will not treat you, even in emergency situations. They will tell you that you can go to the emergency room at Cone, because they do not think that Medicare reimbursements are adequate. And, even if you have cash to pay for treatment, the physician can not and will not see you because you have Medicare insurance. Apparently, there is a law..
You are right, neocon. Physicians are unwittingly helping speed us to socialized health care. Unfortunately, it isn't going to be an improvement for any of us, patients or medical providers. When the government runs medical care, providers will be told what they will get paid, and patients will be told what medical care they can get. Make no mistake, when all Americans are covered, including 30 million "undocumented immigrants", the demand for medical care will be far in excess of the available supply. Rationing of medical care will result, and you can bet your last dollar that it will be those people over age 65 that will again be told that you can't have that gallbladder taken out. It wil not matter if you have the cash to pay, it will be illegal for physicians to treat you for cash. You are too old and without future value. So, Dr. Glassman, neither of us will be better for it, but rather we will both be worse for it.
Posted on July 4, 2008 9:24 AM