Wellness

[DiAnne]

My PC doc started complaining about 3 years ago that it was hard for her refer Medicare patients to specialists because so many will not take it anymore.  

[FrostyBabe1]

My parents had a PCP who didn't accept Medicare. They would file the claim with Medicare, and any secondary insurance as a courtesy, but payment in full was expected at the time of service, with any reimbursement being directed to the patient rather than the doc. The office manager told me that Medicare reimbursements were so low and so slow in coming, that they couldn't afford to accept it. From what I could see from their statements and reimbursements (when I had to take over managing their affairs), he wasn't gouging anyone on pricing. Most office visits ended up costing my parents a net $5-10, so I'm guessing that biggest issue was slowness.  They've been gone for 15ish years though, so I couldn't speak to what is happening now.

[Skyegirl21]

$$$. Government pays a small percentage of what private insurance pays providers. This fact makes it common for providers to always limit the number of Medicare patients they take. The whole system is messed up. 

[Sooner]

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@deeva wrote:

Because of the low reimbursement rate and having to hire additional staff to handle the paperwork. 

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BIngo!  The rules, the paperwork and everything associated with government rules, forms and guidelines.  I have known of docs not taking medicare for a long time.

A friend of ours gave up a practice because of it.  He works for a clinic now.  Don't get him started on that subject. 

[wildcat fan]

We have some doctors around here that don't accept any insurance.  They give the patient a bill, expect payment in full, and it's up to the patient to submit it to the insurance company to get reimbursement.  

[auburngal]

The term is conceirge

[Carmie]

Medicare does indeed cover routine GYN exams every 24 months.  They are part of the well visit for women.

If you have a well visit and do not get a GYN exam from your PCP, the PCP must bill with the code that shows no GYN services were preformed.

Then you can get a routine exam covered by the GYN.  

see info below

[toria]

I've only met a doctor once around here that did not take Medicare.  Almost all the doctors do.  It may depend on where you are located.  Some doctors close their practice to new patients because they are popular and fully loaded.  

[gumboluver]

I guess because medical care is a privilege and not a right in this country, doctors have a right to  accept or not accept Medicare or any other insurance plan.  But I find it amusing that so many Americans are anti "health care for all",  but when they turn 65 years old, they sure start liking that government sponsored Medicare.