DALLAS, Nov. 8 (UPI) -- The American Medical Association Tuesday warned planned Medicare cuts will cause a mass retreat of doctors from new Medicare patients.
The group cited results of its national survey showing that 38 percent of physicians say they'll be forced to stop taking new Medicare patients if the first of six scheduled payment cuts goes into effect January 1.
"Without immediate Congressional action, Medicare will slash payments to physicians 26 percent over the next six years while the cost of caring for patients rises at least 15 percent," said AMA President J. Edward Hill at an AMA meeting in Dallas.
"Physicians want to serve senior patients, but they won't be able to accept an unlimited number of new Medicare patients into their practices if Medicare payments do not keep up with the cost of providing care," he said.
"Only Congress has the power to stop the cuts and preserve seniors' access to care. The clock is running out, Congress must act now to stop the Medicare physician cuts," Hill said.
