Abstracts » Health

Medicare trade-off pondered; Stark asks whether restoring ECG, new doctor pay cuts is worth it

Article Abstract:

Rep Fortney H Stark, chairman of the Ways and Means Committee's Subcommittee on Health, offers to restore Medicare physician payments for reading electrocardiograms and to remove cuts in payments to new physicians, provided medical groups agree to cuts elsewhere. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that restoring those cuts will raise Medicare costs by $600 million a year. The AMA, the American Society of Internal Medicine, and the American Academy of Family Physicians have agreed to the proposal, but the American College of Physicians is considering its response.

Social policy, Stark, Pete, United States. Congress. House. Subcommittee on Health

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HCFA clamping down on Medicare charge limits

Article Abstract:

Medicare handling of limits for physicians' fees is being tested in several areas before enforcement by fall 1992, according to the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA). Doctors who have not signed an agreement to accept the Medicare fee allowances may receive a maximum of 120% of the standard fee. Physicians and patients will receive prompt notification of overcharges with the Explanation of Medicare Benefits. Physicians must reimburse patients for excess payments.

Admin. of public health programs, Management, United States. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services

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HCFA pressuring doctors on Medicare charge limits; physicians urged to give refunds to patients

Article Abstract:

Most physicians accept Medicare assignment and do not overcharge their patients. However, three patients have filed a lawsuit because of excess charges they were required to pay. Most patients do not know about limits on doctors' bills, partly because the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA) fails to disseminate this information. Limits on physicians' charges for Medicare patients are being phased in over a three-year period.

Aged, Elderly, Political activity

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