Texas physicians continue to drop out of Medicare in response to declining reimbursements, according to new data and a Houston Chronicle report.
A total of 164 physicians formally opted out of the program in 2011, the fourth straight year the numbers have seen triple figures.
Bruce Malone, MD, president of the Texas Medical Association, estimated that for every physician who opts out of the program altogether, another 100 restrict Medicare patients. Physicians' Medicare reimbursement has been cut 20 percent in inflation-adjusted dollars since 2011, with more dramatic cuts in store for the future.
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A total of 164 physicians formally opted out of the program in 2011, the fourth straight year the numbers have seen triple figures.
Bruce Malone, MD, president of the Texas Medical Association, estimated that for every physician who opts out of the program altogether, another 100 restrict Medicare patients. Physicians' Medicare reimbursement has been cut 20 percent in inflation-adjusted dollars since 2011, with more dramatic cuts in store for the future.
Related Articles on Coding, Billing and Collections:
HHS: Return Overpayments Within 60 Days
Illinois Senator Requests Emergency Hearing Over State Health Insurance Audit
Outpatient Visits Reach record 4.6M for Cleveland Clinic