Each year since the SGR legislation passed, the cost of fixing the problem has gone up. Right now we're on track for a 26.5% cut in reimbursement. Last year's temporary fix cost $18.5 billion. To "fix" the SGR problem for the next decade is estimated to cost between $244 and $370 billion. I don't see anyone in WA ponying up that kind of cash in this economy. On the other hand Medicare's 2013 budget calls for reimbursement cuts in some specialties and a 7% increase in FP rates. Could this be the year the temporary "doc fix" gets "lost" in all the other budget hoopla and Medicare justifies the resulting 19.5% reimbursement cut for FPs by saying it did "everything it could" by budgeting a 7% increase?
New business model, anyone?
Dave
FP
