Medicare Cuts

[DFrancyk]

---

Members don't see this ad.

I am currently a third year student but I am already strongly leaning toward family practice. I am concerned as to how the proposed medicare cuts over the next 6 years (4.4% per year with a total of 26%) will affect the income of FM docs. I mean, will I be able to support my family and pay back my loans too? What does this mean for us? I have heard theories that the only way to survive will be to go to a Cash Only Practice. How would this work for someone just starting out with no clients/reputation yet? Just want to get some thoughts. Thanks!

David

😕

 

[OnMyWayThere]

I am currently a third year student but I am already strongly leaning toward family practice. I am concerned as to how the proposed medicare cuts over the next 6 years (4.4% per year with a total of 26%) will affect the income of FM docs. I mean, will I be able to support my family and pay back my loans too? What does this mean for us? I have heard theories that the only way to survive will be to go to a Cash Only Practice. How would this work for someone just starting out with no clients/reputation yet? Just want to get some thoughts. Thanks!

David

😕

How does one practice medicine but as a cash only operation? Where would that practice be located and how does one market to those " cash-only" patients?

 

[DFrancyk]

How does one practice medicine but as a cash only operation? Where would that practice be located and how does one market to those " cash-only" patients?

...thats part of my question.

David

 

[dr.smurf]

from my little experience with this, this is how i understand it. first, this is becoming more and more common as docs are just tired of medicare, their cuts and the BS of insurance reimbursement. some docs have gone a few ways.

1.) Boutique medicine - all cash, primarily the affluent/well off person/s, various package deals/ bundled care (sick visits w/ &/or w/out prev med visits for example), usually a yearly fee (for example family pkg of 4 including all services 3-4 k/yr.

2.) Cash for service as you go. self explanatory. charge what you want when you want to.

3.) Pts pay cash up front to provider and deal with insurance companies directly to get reimbursed

these are the few ive heard about. these practices tend to have way less pts for obvious reasons. but if you have to be in a posh area of the country for these to work out.

 

[futuredo32]

I hope this isn't the dumbest question ever, but couldn't you just bill the patient for the amount not covered by medicare?

 

[erichaj]

I hope this isn't the dumbest question ever, but couldn't you just bill the patient for the amount not covered by medicare?

Medicare does not allow doctors who take madicare assignment to bill the patient for the remainder of the fee. It's a contractual agreement.

If you go out of assignment, then you can, but there is a cap. It's not much higher than the assignment.

Also, most medicare patients will not come to you if they know they are going to billed more later.

This year, medicare cut 4.4 percent. The cost of living adjustment is about 5 percent per year.