An ongoing survey of practicing physicians on Sermo has revealed important data on the implications of the proposed Medicare cuts on patients and medical practices. Over 1100 physicians have so far responded in to the survey. Here are the highlights:

• 90% of physicians say that the proposed decrease in physician reimbursement on all Medicare cases would negatively impact their ability to accept new Medicare patients.
• 63% of physicians indicate cuts would require they reserve less time in their schedules for Medicare patients, while 70% would have to consider switching to a cash-only practice.
• 88% of physicians say financial pressures would impact their ability to care for patients. They also describe the need to increase patient volume and spend less time with patients to offset payment cuts.
• 20% concluded they would need to lay off office staff who provide services to their patients.
• Over 60% of physicians surveyed said they would have to consider changing careers as a result of the increasing financial pressures to provide medical care.
• 99% of physicians responding to the Sermo physician survey agreed that the general public does not understand the bureaucratic and financial struggles physicians face in providing healthcare in the United States.
• 85% of physicians believe that these cuts will make it prohibitive for physicians to accept medicare patients and thus affect patient access to physician care, whether that be specialty or primary care.

More info: Press Release

Filed under: Health Policy