Although I swore I would never jump through these stupid hoops I did change the way I practice (for the worse) and I did attest. With every patient, I inform them why I can no longer maintain eye contact and why the visit takes so long without spending very much of it directly engaged in the interaction with the patient. I also inform them that, should this MU continue down the planned road where penalties will be assessed, I will no longer accept Medicare. I am, in effect, warning them. The responses from the patients have been very vocal....they are incensed at how the government has intruded into their doctor/patient relationship. I tell them, "then please write your Congressperson". Whether they do or not I do not know. But, at least they have been forewarned.
