Almost 50 percent of medical practices say that refusing to accept new Medicare patients is one of the business considerations currently under discussion due to reimbursement uncertainty, according to a recent report from the Medical Group Management Association.
The results are based on responses from more than 2,800 medical groups representing approximately 63,000 physicians. The results show that 67 percent of medical practices are considering the possibility of limiting the number of new Medicare patients they see. More than 76 percent of respondents said they are considering the postponement of purchasing new equipment or facilities, and 54 percent said they may reduce the number of clinical staff.
Congress is expected to reconvene for a one-week “lame-duck” session in mid-November. The AASM recently signed on to a letter with 117 medical specialty societies and physician organizations that urged leadership in the House of Representatives to take action during that session to address the physician reimbursement crisis.
