Before Medicare patients are forced to travel further for medical care or even go to emergency facilities instead of a doctor’s office for basic care,
Furthermore, pay cuts may stop physicians from purchasing health information technology. The Medicare physician payment system needs to keep up with rising practice costs so that seniors can be assured of continued access to quality care.
These cuts will grow to about 40 percent total by 2016 unless Congress permanently reforms Medicare’s physician payment system. Urge Congress not to settle for another temporary fix — health system reform must include Medicare reform and we need a long-term solution now.
—————————————RELATED HISTORICAL ARTICLE—————————————–Posted 12/8/2003 10:05 PM Updated 12/8/2003 10:05 PM Source: USA TODAY research BEYOND WORDS: Bill signed into law
How Medicare will change The Medicare legislation signed into law by President Bush on Monday (12/08/2003) represents the most dramatic overhaul since the health insurance program for seniors and the disabled was created in 1965.
Some of the major changes and when they would take effect:
•Prescription-drug cards. Starting in the spring, seniors could pay up to $30 for a drug discount card. The Bush administration says it could save them 15% to 25% per prescription. Some very low-income seniors would also get as much as $600 a year to help pay for drugs in 2004 and 2005.
•Prescription-drug benefit. Starting in 2006, seniors could join privately administered drug plans for an average $35 monthly premium, which could rise if drug costs increase. After a $250 deductible, Medicare would cover 75% of drug costs up to $2,250. Seniors then must pay for all of their next $2,850 in drug costs. Once their total drug bill exceeds $5,100, Medicare would begin paying 95% of additional costs. Low-income seniors would receive subsidies covering part or all of their out-of-pocket costs, subject to income and asset limitations. Those with more than $10,000 in savings as individuals or $20,000 as a couple would be disqualified for the added assistance. Premiums, benefits, co-payment shares and limits on assets and income will rise with inflation after 2006.
•Competition. Starting in 2010, Medicare would test competition between private health plans and the government. The experiment would involve up to 2 million seniors in six metropolitan areas for six years. Affected seniors could have to pay 5% more a year to stay in Medicare if private insurers in their areas provide less expensive coverage.
•Doctor bills. Starting in 2007, seniors with incomes of $80,000 or more a year would pay higher monthly premiums for coverage of doctors’ visits. Instead of paying 25% of the premium now paid by all beneficiaries, wealthier seniors would pay more — up to 80% for those with incomes above $200,000.
•Health savings accounts. Starting Jan. 1, pre-retirement-age workers who have health insurance plans with high deductibles would be able to set aside up to $2,250 (for individuals) or $4,500 (for families) annually in tax-free accounts to cover health care costs. Withdrawals for non-medical purposes would be taxed. There would also be a 10% penalty.
•Generic drugs. Changes would speed generic drugs to market by limiting the ability of pharmaceutical companies to block cheaper equivalents.
•Rural health care. About $25 billion would be spent to increase payments to rural hospitals and doctors.
•Drug prices. Medicare would be barred from negotiating lower drug prices for seniors. That would be left to private insurers.
•Job-related coverage. Employers who provide drug benefits to retirees would get tax subsidies and other incentives to continue coverage. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
No comments:
Post a Comment