This is a very big issue for Family Practice physicians. These are not the days of a granted income of at least 150k for physicians. Shocked, you might be, but with dwindling incomes from cuts from insurance companies with contracts and the up and coming Medicare cuts, there are many out there not even anywhere near 100k. How is this so, well in many practices, there’s no real salary set for the doctor, he/she gets “what’s left over”, in other words after the rent, 
malpractice, payroll, etc. and all other expenses are paid, they get to see “what’s left'”, and it’s not always adding up to a great figure. Sure the money the practice takes in may look good, but what goes home in their pockets to feed their families?
The average person still seems to be of the opinion that being a physician is a great paying job, well think again. Times have changed and the income levels enjoyed in the past by physicians are flat just not there today. The Medicare cuts are making this even worse and will limit access for seniors. I am very aware of this as I have an 83 year
old mother.
On another site where I frequently comment (EMR Update) I conducted a simple poll with choices and 12.5% said they will stop seeing Medicare patients all together, 25% will stop seeing new patients, 50% will continue on as usual, and 12.5% are not sure. When looking at these numbers there’s a potential of 50% fewer doctors for Medicare patients to see. This was a poll of all physicians, specialists included who earn a bit more in compensation in some areas. Those are some pretty big numbers so when you read about physicians taking this seriously, they are, and sometimes it could make the difference of whether or not the doors to the practice stay open.
Specialists too are also opting out if the cuts go through though. The percentage of Medicare patients make a big difference too, i.e. the demographics of an office having 25% or more under Medicare are really at the point of being vulnerable to the pay cuts. And what will happen next if the pay cuts come though, well the insurers are usually never far behind and that is nothing optimistic on the horizon, and they have been very aggressive here in California with their contracts to where we have some of the lowest compensation in the US. BD
Due to all the daily headaches of practice -- referrals, endless duplicate paperwork to prove medical necessity, phone calls, documentation, etc. -- I would honestly love to get out of medicine altogether," she said.
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