The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) predicts fewer physicians will participate in Medicare if Congress allows a 21 percent pay cut in 2010 and cumulative cut of 40 percent by 2014.
The CBO predicts that the cuts may lead many physicians, especially those in primary care, to either stop participating in Medicare or stop accepting new Medicare patients. It is predicted that specialists would either follow one of these options, or compensate for lower payment by increasing the number of tests and procedures performed.
The CBO also predicts that reduced access will force many patients to seek treatment in emergency rooms, where they may not receive the proper level of treatment.
The CBO's letter to the House Budget Committee can be found at:
http://www/cbo.gov.
AUGS Government Relations Committee
Alan Garely, MD - Chair