Although "Doc Fix" Bandaid In Place, No Long-Term Solution In Sight

Legislators went home for the President's Day weekend with a patch in place to prevent Medicare doctors from getting hit with a 27.4% pay cut. However, that bandaid will only last until December 31, 2012. What will they do then?

This problem started back in 1997 as part of a deficit reduction plan that used a formula to set Medicare physician payment rates. A few years later it became obvious that the formula was not going to work, and the yearly "Doc Fix" struggle began. A simple fix is difficult because the total cost to correct the problem is $316 billion over the next decade and nobody can agree on where that money is going to come from.

Physicians are also guilty of being part of the problem because they are paid for each test or service they provide, rather than for the health of the patient. This drives medical costs up. So a fundamental change in the overall structure of the health care system is needed.

Stay tuned for more.

http://modal-media.com/
http://cphoanghai.com/
http://www.firesalefouru.info/