Amit Patel, MD, a gastroenterologist with the Evanston-based GI Alliance of Illinois, spoke with Becker’s about one of the most disruptive trends affecting physicians today: shrinking reimbursement rates paired with rising practice expenses.
Dr. Amit Patel: The most disruptive trend for physicians is the decrease in reimbursement coupled with the increasing expenses. It is particularly concerning for Medicare patients. The economics makes it almost impossible to care for these patients. For example, it is difficult for a Medicare patient to obtain spine consultations and treatments. It also affects the specialties and number of physicians in regions.
It is also leading to the closure of private practice offices, and hence less options for patients. This is not limited to Medicare. Commercial insurers also base their reimbursement to physicians on Medicare rates and with the decrease year after year leading to a critical break point. Reimbursement is a major factor in the decrease and in some regions lack of obstetric care. Only time will tell to what extent this will continue. There appears to be no solution from our legislators, who neglected the issue in the annual budget this year.
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