https://www.newsmax.com/sallypipes/seniors-solvent-taxpayer/2022/12/15/id/1100643/
Doctors around the country are pleading for Congress to scrap a slew of Medicare payment cuts set to take effect next year. If lawmakers don’t act, healthcare providers could be looking at an 8.47% reduction in pay.
Such a pay cut could have significant implications for seniors.
Medicare has paid doctors and hospitals much less than private insurance for years.
Cutting reimbursements further could cause providers to reduce the number of Medicare beneficiaries they’ll see — and thereby jeopardize their ability to access care.
At the same time, Medicare’s finances are a mess.
The program’s Part A hospital insurance trust fund is set to run out of money in 2028. Congress needs to make structural reforms to Medicare to make sure that it’s there for those who truly need it over the long term.
The current turmoil is a function of several mandated changes to how Medicare reimburses providers. First, there is the 4.5% cut in the Physician Fee Schedule that goes into effect next year.
On top of that, Medicare is required to implement an across-the-board 4% cut under the so-called “PAYGO sequester” rule.
