President Trump and his team have made it their goal to help ordinary Americans and purge the federal government of waste and inefficiency. Boosting Medicare reimbursements and shifting the program to a site-neutral reimbursement model is a simple, straightforward way to achieve both of those goals. Let’s hope lawmakers move these reforms up their to-do lists.
Do you think your doctor deserves a raise?
The conventional wisdom holds that doctors are well paid. But the fact is that physician pay has fallen in real terms in recent years—particularly for those who treat Medicare beneficiaries.
Falling reimbursement is just one of the challenges medical practices face today. Absent reform, the market for physician services could collapse—and consolidate power in the hands of a few huge hospitals, health systems, and vertically integrated insurers like UnitedHealth’s Optum. Such consolidation means that patients would have fewer choices in where they can seek care—and would likely pay higher prices.
In other words, raising pay for doctors could lead to more sustainable health costs in the long run.
Nothing contained in this blog is to be construed as necessarily reflecting the views of the Pacific Research Institute or as an attempt to thwart or aid the passage of any legislation.
Want To Spend Less On Health Care? Get Your Doctor A Raise
Sally C. Pipes
President Trump and his team have made it their goal to help ordinary Americans and purge the federal government of waste and inefficiency. Boosting Medicare reimbursements and shifting the program to a site-neutral reimbursement model is a simple, straightforward way to achieve both of those goals. Let’s hope lawmakers move these reforms up their to-do lists.
Do you think your doctor deserves a raise?
The conventional wisdom holds that doctors are well paid. But the fact is that physician pay has fallen in real terms in recent years—particularly for those who treat Medicare beneficiaries.
Falling reimbursement is just one of the challenges medical practices face today. Absent reform, the market for physician services could collapse—and consolidate power in the hands of a few huge hospitals, health systems, and vertically integrated insurers like UnitedHealth’s Optum. Such consolidation means that patients would have fewer choices in where they can seek care—and would likely pay higher prices.
In other words, raising pay for doctors could lead to more sustainable health costs in the long run.
Read the op-ed.
Nothing contained in this blog is to be construed as necessarily reflecting the views of the Pacific Research Institute or as an attempt to thwart or aid the passage of any legislation.