Home Forums Discussions General Discussion New Medicare Payment System

It begins... I just got a news letter from the AAFP that reports Medicare is rolling out a new payment system that 'moves away from fee-for-service' and pays rural and urban health clinics a flat rate for each visit. I think the AAFP is being short-sited and regurgitating propaganda, as they entitled this "Rural FPs Poised to Get Pay Hike." Apparently, the 112 dollars will be an increase for some. I think this is the first sign of CMS taking action on the present administration's ideas to move away from fee-for- service (getting paid for what you do). At the root of it all, is a desire not to pay us for what we do. Do not think they have any other motivation.

Actually, Chris, that's not bad. $112 is almost what I am paid for a no-brain student flight physical. The average Medicare patient has 5 or 6 problems, and each one could easily encourage a separate visit, not then needing all the pesky documentation that goes with a 99214 or 99215.

The great game of medical Whack-A-Mole goes on?..

Now we will get paid for what (they think) we ARE, not what we DO.

I'm certain they don't think much of what we ARE, despite much lip service to the contrary.

But we will adapt (or die) as individuals. The profession of medicine can only be practiced by real doctors, not bean counters and CEO's and CFO's and all the other alphabet soup that floods over us.

It may take a while for things to settle down. The young doctors seem perfectly happy to be white-collar employees.