Currently, Medicare physician pay cuts of 27.4 percent will go into effect Jan. 1, 2012, unless Congress intervenes, and roughly 9 percent of medical groups would cease treating Medicare patients if the cuts went through, according to an American Medical News report.
The Medical Group Management Association surveyed 2,176 medical groups representing more than 93,000 physicians regarding the sustainable growth rate formula and how they would respond if no action were taken. Roughly 95 percent of respondents currently participate in Medicare. Here are some results of the survey:
If Congress does not intervene to avert the scheduled 27.4 percent Medicare cuts, which of the following actions will your practice take? (Percentage of groups answering "yes")
Reduce number of appointments for new Medicare patients: 51 percent
Reduce number of appointments for current Medicare patients: 34.8 percent
Stop accepting new Medicare patients: 30.9 percent
Accept only established patients aging into Medicare: 26.9 percent
Stop treating Medicare patients altogether: 9 percent
Has the uncertainty created by annual threats of Medicare payment cuts caused your practice to make any of the following business decisions? (Percentage of groups answering "yes")
Delayed purchase of new clinical equipment and/or facilities: 64.7 percent
Expanded revenue from other sources: 60.3 percent
Reduced staff salaries and/or benefits: 53.4 percent
Reduced charity care: 51.7 percent
Reduced number of administrative support staff: 48.7 percent
Reduced number of clinical staff: 39 percent
Delayed electronic medical record purchase: 31 percent
Delayed e-prescribing purchase: 23.3 percent
Closed satellite office(s): 23.3 percent
The Medical Group Management Association surveyed 2,176 medical groups representing more than 93,000 physicians regarding the sustainable growth rate formula and how they would respond if no action were taken. Roughly 95 percent of respondents currently participate in Medicare. Here are some results of the survey:
If Congress does not intervene to avert the scheduled 27.4 percent Medicare cuts, which of the following actions will your practice take? (Percentage of groups answering "yes")
Reduce number of appointments for new Medicare patients: 51 percent
Reduce number of appointments for current Medicare patients: 34.8 percent
Stop accepting new Medicare patients: 30.9 percent
Accept only established patients aging into Medicare: 26.9 percent
Stop treating Medicare patients altogether: 9 percent
Has the uncertainty created by annual threats of Medicare payment cuts caused your practice to make any of the following business decisions? (Percentage of groups answering "yes")
Delayed purchase of new clinical equipment and/or facilities: 64.7 percent
Expanded revenue from other sources: 60.3 percent
Reduced staff salaries and/or benefits: 53.4 percent
Reduced charity care: 51.7 percent
Reduced number of administrative support staff: 48.7 percent
Reduced number of clinical staff: 39 percent
Delayed electronic medical record purchase: 31 percent
Delayed e-prescribing purchase: 23.3 percent
Closed satellite office(s): 23.3 percent
Related Articles on the Sustainable Growth Rate:
Health Affairs: MedPAC's SGR Fix Commits "Regrettable" Policy Errors
CMS Releases Physician Fee Schedule, Includes 27.4% Cut to Physician Payments
President Obama's Deficit Plan: What Happens to the Sustainable Growth Rate?