The annual inquisition begins...does make one wonder if the government is perhaps is wanting to be out of the Medicare business? By moving individuals into the private managed care plans, there is less administration to be handled for the traditional medicare plan..with the management being switched to private industry to manage, control, and keep cost effective lids on reimbursement. Traditional Medicare allows one to choose your physician, while a private managed care requires an "in network" physician, thus one can't simply choose a physician openly if they are not in network.
Physicians too are backed up against the wall as covering their costs as well as compensation for traditional Medicare continues to be cut and have to weigh their options to provide service and yet keep the doors of the practice open for all. One has to wonder what will happen when private plan enrollment assumes the full driver's seat and traditional Medicare no longer will seem to be a viable option for consumers. What will happen to compensation rates for physicians at this point? Right now they are paid for the most part at a higher rate, but will the pendulum begin to swing the other direction down the road with provision heavy contracts?
There have been recent articles about the insurers who offer managed care plans already getting ready for the next "marketing" swing to take place for additional enrollment, even to the effect that earnings for the 4th quarter could be impacted to a degree due to increased marketing costs to drive more seniors into the managed care arena. If traditional Medicare ceases to be a real option for many, where is the future? Will privately managed plans be the only reasonable alternative available; and where will the compensation for the physicians lie when an overall majority of senior citizens are enrolled in plans managed outside the direct realm of Medicare? Just some thoughts to ponder..as the number of choices appear to be dwindling BD
MA plans on average are paid 12% more than traditional Medicare, and some private fee-for-service plans are paid at twice the rate as traditional Medicare, according to CongressDaily. Baucus said there is going to be "some strong examination" of MA plans. Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) said, "I think the fee-for-service area is a good area to look at" (CongressDaily, 10/18). However, Sen. Gordon Smith (R-Ore.) said, "There may be some trimming, but the general proposition is Medicare Advantage has taken hold, and it is the basis by which rural people get Medicare."
Senate Committee Discusses Cutting MA Plan Payments To Prevent Physician Payment Cut
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