Press 2 if you have Medicare

Instead of fixing the SGR, Congress pushed off the fix for a few months. SGR is a formula that is designed to decrease doctors fees for Medicare. Doctors big issue with Medicare is that the rates are about the same as they were in 1983 without an adjustment for inflation. Unfunded government mandates have increased but the reimbursement has not. Admittedly, docs were probably paid too much in 1983 but now times are different. To make the numbers look good for the healthcare plan, they used the cut numbers which include a 20% or so cut in physician reimbursement. This pretty much reimburses less than what it costs to provide the care. Anyway, our biggest primary care group of over 200 doctors has just decided enough is enough and limited its Medicare slots to less than 1 per doc per day. (45% of thier docs decided just to drop Medicare). They already do not take Medicaid. The specialists have already limited Medicare to patients that the primary care docs personally calls for an appointment.

"Thank you for calling Greater Metro Cardiothorasic Consultants' appointment line. Keeping your heart healthy is our business. If you have private insurance such as Blue Cross, United, Etna or Cigna please press 1 and one of our schedulers will be right with you to schedule a timely and convenient appointment. If you have Medicare, Medicaid or other government funded insurnance press 2 and you will be directed how to submit an appointment request in writing. Please be aware you will need your primary care doc to personally call one of our physicians. We will then get back to you in writing in 9 to 12 weeks with an answer to your request. If you are granted an appointment, it will on a space available basis."