The impact of the cuts will reverberate beyond seniors who rely on Medicare. America's military families will also be hurt, as the military health insurance program, TRICARE, faces the same physician payment cuts as Medicare. In fact, all patients should be concerned about the Medicare cuts, as more than two-thirds of physicians tell the AMA they will defer purchases of information technology next year. Over the life of the cuts, about eight in 10 physicians report they will have to forgo this important purchase used to improve health care quality. Also troubling, more than half of physicians say they will reduce their practice staff, and 14 percent will completely get out of patient care when Medicare cuts hit next year.

"Physicians are working hard to improve quality of care for patients, but this short-sighted government payment policy makes it difficult to purchase new technologies used to help improve care," said Dr. Wilson. "Congress needs to take a long, hard look at how Medicare cuts affect seniors who rely on the program for health care, and all patients who rightfully expect high quality care."


"In six short months the Medicare cuts will begin, unless Congress intervenes," said Dr. Wilson. "We can't sit idly by and let America's seniors pay the price for a short-sighted government payment policy with reduced access to care - Congress must act."

Back to HCB News

More Industry Headlines