Trends in physician assignment rates for Medicare services, 1968-85

This article provides an overview of trends in Medicare assignment rates. It covers changes over time in assignment by demographic characteristics and State and analyzes beneficiary liability. Although assignment rates were rising slowly from 1977 to 1983, beneficiary liability was also rising, primarily because of the rise in physician charges and the reduction on allowed charges. Substantial increases in the assignment rate have coincided with the implementation of provisions in the Deficit Reduction Act of 1984 to encourage assignment, and the assignment rate reached on all time high of 69 percent in 1985.