Medicare pay cuts for doctors were suspended this week by Congress and a new poll from AARP found that more seniors fear losing their doctors over the potential cuts.
The poll, conducted in Massachusetts, found that eight out of ten seniors are worried about their care if Congress does not update the Medicare doctor payment plan.
Eighty-two percent were “very concerned” or “somewhat concerned” over the cuts.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) came to an agreement on Wednesday, Dec. 8 to push back the 23 percent pay cuts to doctors by a year.
Even though the Medicare pay cuts will not go into effect on Jan. 1 as originally scheduled, the poll highlights the fear seniors have of potentially losing their doctors. Every year since 2002, Congress has had to delay the Medicare doctor pay cuts.
“Our members are scared that their doctors may stop treating Medicare patients, and that they won’t be able to find a new one,” AARP Massachusetts director Deborah Banda stated. “Across party lines – Democrat, Republican, Independent – they want Members of Congress to stop this cut, and say they will view their elected officials less favorably if they don’t.”
According to NPR, this is the fifth time that Congress has had to stave off cuts this year. In the 1990s, the cuts were originally proposed under the Sustainable Growth Rate formula to balance the budget.
The new deal gives lawmakers another year to deal with how to pay for doctors’ Medicare wages, and further agreement(s) to push back the cuts in 2011 are likely.
The poll, conducted in Massachusetts, found that eight out of ten seniors are worried about their care if Congress does not update the Medicare doctor payment plan.
Eighty-two percent were “very concerned” or “somewhat concerned” over the cuts.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) came to an agreement on Wednesday, Dec. 8 to push back the 23 percent pay cuts to doctors by a year.
Even though the Medicare pay cuts will not go into effect on Jan. 1 as originally scheduled, the poll highlights the fear seniors have of potentially losing their doctors. Every year since 2002, Congress has had to delay the Medicare doctor pay cuts.
“Our members are scared that their doctors may stop treating Medicare patients, and that they won’t be able to find a new one,” AARP Massachusetts director Deborah Banda stated. “Across party lines – Democrat, Republican, Independent – they want Members of Congress to stop this cut, and say they will view their elected officials less favorably if they don’t.”
According to NPR, this is the fifth time that Congress has had to stave off cuts this year. In the 1990s, the cuts were originally proposed under the Sustainable Growth Rate formula to balance the budget.
The new deal gives lawmakers another year to deal with how to pay for doctors’ Medicare wages, and further agreement(s) to push back the cuts in 2011 are likely.
