MedWorm provides a medical RSS filtering service. Over 6000 RSS medical sources are combined and output via different filters. This feed contains the latest medical blog items that have been tagged with 'doc fix'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 02:53:11 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4615097&cid=t_371624_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fobama-is-not-reforming-healthcare-the-right-way%2F2011.03.20 Last year’s “Doctor Fix” was passed the last week congress was in session in 2010. This was after the medical profession was held in suspense for 9 months. The “Doctor Fix” was supposedly the result of President Obama making a deal with the AMA for the AMA’s support. He was going to pass a real “Doctor Fix” in 2011 by repairing the defective sustainable growth rate formula (SGR). Nothing has been done about this by President Obama in 2011. The cumulative physician reimbursement reduction of 25% was suspended until January 2012. Physicians face a 29.5% Medicare Pay Cut in January 2012. Four and one half percent was added to last year’s cumulative physicians reimbursement reduction. The reduction was calculated into the CBO’s cost score for President Obama’s Healthcar... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4615097 Sun, 20 Mar 2011 20:00:41 +0100 4615097 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4477696&cid=t_371624_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FHmZsgClsCq8%2F By Michael F. CannonYesterday, President Barack Obama released his proposed budget for fiscal year 2012.  Many of my Cato colleagues have already discussed why the president should be embarrassed of this document.  Chris Preble writes that the president offers "faux cuts" to military spending.  Dan Mitchell says the president is "missing in action" on entitlement reform.  Chris Edwards writes that "the Obama administration has completely chickened out on spending reforms in its new budget." They were too kind.  This budget is thoroughly dishonest, too. Back in 1997, Congress enacted automatic reductions in the price controls that Medicare uses to pay for physician services.  Congress has delayed those cuts year after year, and everyone now agrees they are politically infeasible.  ... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4477696 Tue, 15 Feb 2011 14:03:14 +0100 4477696 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3733087&cid=t_371624_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fdespite-medicare-primary-care-doctors-were-paid-more-in-2009%2F2010.07.07 The Senate has further tweaked its doc fix legislation to restore the extension to six months (from June 1 through Nov. 30) and the pay raise to 2.2 percent, reports a Senate Finance Committee Republican advisor. In Northern Michigan, the doc fix can’t come soon enough, as yet more physicians contemplate not accepting any more Medicare patients. The legislation continues to see revisions in the Senate, following the U.S. House refusal to consider the doc fix as a stand-alone bill. (TwitDoc, WWTV/WWUP-TV News) But primary care physicians saw a 2.8 percent median compensation increase in 2009, according to a Medical Group Management Association survey. MGMA attributed the rise to employers’ and payers’ increased commitment to primary care, but noted threats to Medicare payments s... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3733087 Wed, 07 Jul 2010 14:00:00 +0100 3733087 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3683618&cid=t_371624_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Ffor-medicare-patients-the-doctor-is-out%2F2010.06.21 In a last-minute shocker, the Senate voted Thursday against postponing a scheduled 21-percent cut in Medicare reimbursement to physicians and other healthcare providers. Sixty senators were needed to end filibuster debate and stop the cuts under Senate rules. Fifty six voted in favor, while 40 opposed. There was no Republican support. (And, of course, no support from Senator Lieberman, who is a Republican in disguise.) Another consequence of the vote is that tens of thousands of Americans who have exhausted their jobless benefits would not be eligible for more. In addition, new taxes on wealthy investment managers would not be imposed, along with an increase in liability taxes on oil companies, leading Democrats to contend that Republicans were protecting Wall Street and the oil industr... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3683618 Mon, 21 Jun 2010 20:00:00 +0100 3683618 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3683619&cid=t_371624_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fcongress-acts-on-doc-fix-music-to-doctors-ears%2F2010.06.21 Leading members of the Senate Finance Committee came to an agreement Thursday night on a six-month “doc fix,” paving the way for physicians to be reimbursed a little more for seeing Medicare patients instead of a lot less. (This is now separate from the rest of the legislative package it had been part of, which is still under debate.) Sen. Majority Leader Harry Reid warned that without passage, there’d be “havoc in America.” But the American Medical Association (AMA) continued its attack on anything less than a permanent solution. The AMA compared it to fiddling while Rome burns. What tune are members of Congress playing? A) Stayin’ Alive by the Bee Gees B) Doctor, Doctor! by the Thompson Twins C) Time to Get Ill by the Beastie Boys (The Hill, Politico, ... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3683619 Mon, 21 Jun 2010 18:00:00 +0100 3683619 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3683621&cid=t_371624_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fno-go-on-a-doc-fix%2F2010.06.21 The Senate has rejected the so-called “doc fix.” This means that doctors taking Medicare patients will now get 21 percent less pay for their work. How’s that getting involved in politics working out for you guys? Not so good. But there’s a larger issue here. Why do we keep trying to control healthcare costs by just mandating that less money be spent? It’s failed for decades. But like a losing gambler convinced that if he just keeps doubling down he’ll finally come out ahead, people keep trying. For example, the New York Times reported on a study of the impact of pay cuts to doctors for Medicare patients with lung cancer. (more…) *This blog post was originally published at See First Blog* (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3683621 Mon, 21 Jun 2010 14:00:47 +0100 3683621 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3678505&cid=t_371624_83_f&fid=34856&url=http%3A%2F%2Finsidesurgery.com%2F2010%2F06%2Fhouse-senate-medicare-doc-fix%2F Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi is viewing the Senate passed version of the Medicare “doc fix” warily and says she sees no reason to pass that version. Because of this, the reimbursements arm of Medicare will start issuing checks to healthcare providers at the 21% reduced rate. (Source: Inside Surgery) Inside Surgery blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3678505 Sat, 19 Jun 2010 15:30:03 +0100 3678505 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3676611&cid=t_371624_83_f&fid=34856&url=http%3A%2F%2Finsidesurgery.com%2F2010%2F06%2Fminute-reprieve-senate-passes-temporary-medicare-doc-fix%2F In a somewhat surprisingly turnaround from twenty-four hours ago, the US Senate passed a temporary, six-month delay in the scheduled 21% cut in Medicare reimbursement that was due to retroactively kick in on June 18, 2010. The measure also included a temporary 2.2% rate hike for the six month period. Senatorys Harry Reid and Jim Boehner worked together to craft the bill, which passed by unaminous consent today on the Senate Floor. (Source: Inside Surgery) Inside Surgery blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3676611 Fri, 18 Jun 2010 22:53:00 +0100 3676611 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3671581&cid=t_371624_83_f&fid=34856&url=http%3A%2F%2Finsidesurgery.com%2F2010%2F06%2Fsenate-rejects-doc-fix-medicare-reimbursements-cut-21%2F In a move that will have far reaching ramifications for senior healthcare, the Senate rejected the so called “doc fix” that would have staved off a 21% cut in Medicare reimbursements scheduled to take place on June 1. The American Medical Association blasted the decision, saying that it will cause up to 30% of primary care doctors to drop Medicare patients from their practices. (Source: Inside Surgery) Inside Surgery blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3671581 Fri, 18 Jun 2010 06:03:27 +0100 3671581 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3658953&cid=t_371624_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fdoc-fix-vote-awaits-reimbursement-cut-to-take-effect%2F2010.06.14 Senators visited their districts Friday and again today, so the earliest they could vote on the doc fix is tomorrow (6/15) — the day the 21.3 percent reimbursement cut takes effect. Slowing down the process are the numerous amendments. For example, the duration of the fix is still being negotiated. And there are amendments such as redefining what makes up a rural health district. In California, some rural areas are seeing urban levels of patient demand, but giving more money to these counties is being seen as a kickback akin to others that were proposed during healthcare reform. (Part B News, The Hill) *This blog post was originally published at ACP Internist* (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3658953 Mon, 14 Jun 2010 12:00:00 +0100 3658953 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3656793&cid=t_371624_83_f&fid=34856&url=http%3A%2F%2Finsidesurgery.com%2F2010%2F06%2Fobama-radio-address-push-senate-pass-medicare-doc-fix%2F President Barack Obama used his weekly radio address to urge the Senate to pass legislation (aka the “doc fix”) delaying the scheduled 21% cut in Medicare payments that took place as of June 1. Because of the uncertain possibility of passing legislation, the administration has been withholding any payment to physicians since then, even at the 21% rate cut. (Source: Inside Surgery) Inside Surgery blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3656793 Sat, 12 Jun 2010 19:16:51 +0100 3656793 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3625500&cid=t_371624_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fprimary-care-doctors-and-the-medicare-boycott%2F2010.06.02 I saw this interesting article linked to from a blog about angry doctors dropping out of Medicare in Texas. As one who shares the universal annoyance at congress’ failure to fix the SGR for more than 30 days at a time, I was kind of cheered by this. That’s what it will take to get the system fixed – a grassroots, full-scale rejection of the system! Good for them. And the opening lines of the article were encouraging: Texas doctors are opting out of Medicare at alarming rates, frustrated by reimbursement cuts they say make participation in government-funded care of seniors unaffordable. An “alarming” rate. Wow. Cool. So how many is that, anyway? More than 300 doctors have dropped the program in the last two years, including 50 in the first three months of... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3625500 Wed, 02 Jun 2010 22:00:00 +0100 3625500 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3625502&cid=t_371624_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fdoc-fix-blamed-on-doctors%2F2010.06.02 The American Medical Association will launch a multi-million-dollar ad campaign tomorrow to heighten pressure on Congress for a doc-fix bill. The American College of Physicians (ACP) reacted by calling for doctors to contact their member of Congress directly to let their voices be heard. Robert Centor, FACP, called for doctors to protest as well. (American Medical Association, American College of Physicians, DB’s Rants) Meanwhile, a Florida medical society predicts a crisis in that senior-laden state. The society cited but did not name eight primary care doctors who’ve stopped accepting Medicare patients this year, and 12 cardiologists who left private practice for employment elsewhere because of already reduced payments. Unbelievably, business columnist Steven Pearlstein sorte... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3625502 Wed, 02 Jun 2010 18:00:00 +0100 3625502