Physicians meeting with Sodrel
A group of 10 physicians representing the interest of all physicians in Floyd County will be meeting with Mike Sodrel on friday to discuss the ongoing issues related to Medicaid, Medicare, and malpractice premiums.
They will inform him of the seriousness of the issues and the fact that some offices are dropping Medicaid as of November 19th and others likely to follow. Medicare may be limited as well at the first of the year if the proposed cuts are passed.
Malpractice premiums for OB, in excess of $70,000, have caused many to drop OB services and is at a crisis level in Floyd and Clark Counties. The largest OB group in Floyd County no longer performs Medicaid deliveries and may have to drop insurers like Humana because of reimbursement and other issues. Two thirds of all their deliveries are used to pay for their malpractice premiums.
Radiologist in the area may stop recruiting new physicians because of the continued cuts in reimbursements for all x-ray procedures. One of the hardest hit areas are mammograms. Reimbursement has been cut so dramatically that some groups may decide to quit performing the exams because they cannot break even.
Typical write-offs for any service physicians perform is 30-70%. Medicaid rates have not been increased more than 5% in the last 10years. Most all other professions at least see a cost of living adjustment that has not been realized by physicians. Over the last 5 years, they have generated more gross revenue but because of write-offs and overhead expenses have made lower salaries.
It is a shame that health care access will need to worsen before legislators finally take the action necessary to remedy the problem.
They will inform him of the seriousness of the issues and the fact that some offices are dropping Medicaid as of November 19th and others likely to follow. Medicare may be limited as well at the first of the year if the proposed cuts are passed.
Malpractice premiums for OB, in excess of $70,000, have caused many to drop OB services and is at a crisis level in Floyd and Clark Counties. The largest OB group in Floyd County no longer performs Medicaid deliveries and may have to drop insurers like Humana because of reimbursement and other issues. Two thirds of all their deliveries are used to pay for their malpractice premiums.
Radiologist in the area may stop recruiting new physicians because of the continued cuts in reimbursements for all x-ray procedures. One of the hardest hit areas are mammograms. Reimbursement has been cut so dramatically that some groups may decide to quit performing the exams because they cannot break even.
Typical write-offs for any service physicians perform is 30-70%. Medicaid rates have not been increased more than 5% in the last 10years. Most all other professions at least see a cost of living adjustment that has not been realized by physicians. Over the last 5 years, they have generated more gross revenue but because of write-offs and overhead expenses have made lower salaries.
It is a shame that health care access will need to worsen before legislators finally take the action necessary to remedy the problem.
posted by Anonymous at 6:30 AM
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