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Medicare physician payment changes: impact on physicians and beneficiaries
J A Schoenman1, K J Hayes, C M Cheng
1Project HOPE Center for Health Affairs (CHA), Bethesda, Maryland, USA.
Health Affairs (Project Hope)
|March 23, 2001
Summary
Physician payment changes from the Balanced Budget Act (BBA) of 1997 did not negatively impact Medicare beneficiaries' access to care. Physicians expressed greater concern over managed care and Medicaid reimbursement than Medicare.
Area of Science:
- Health Policy
- Medical Economics
- Healthcare Access
Background:
- The Balanced Budget Act (BBA) of 1997 enacted significant changes to Medicare physician payments.
- Reductions in Medicare payments for surgical services raised concerns about potential impacts on patient access to care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess physician perspectives on Medicare payment changes following the BBA.
- To determine if Medicare beneficiaries' access to healthcare services has been affected.
Main Methods:
- A national survey of physicians was sponsored by the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission.
- The survey gathered data on physician views regarding Medicare reimbursement and patient access.
Main Results:
- Physician survey results indicate that Medicare beneficiaries' access to care has not declined.
- Physicians reported greater concerns regarding reimbursement from managed care plans and Medicaid compared to Medicare.
Conclusions:
- Current findings suggest no immediate access crisis for Medicare beneficiaries due to BBA payment adjustments.
- Ongoing surveillance is recommended to monitor for potential access issues related to future payment reductions.