Medicare payments to physicians are far below the negotiated payment scales with non-profit health insurance companies for PPO patients. Medicare and Medicaid payment scales should be raised to parity with these payment scales. Payments are even below those under the Affordable Care Act.
The low payment scale from Medicare is causing a crisis among small medical practices. This problem is growing worse as the population ages and more people qualify for Medicare.
In the past doctors have lost money treating Medicare and Medicaid patients, and made up the difference with higher charges for other patients.
The extra funds are available by raising the Social Security Premium cap.
Please submit this change to congress.
Note: Medicare part B is equivalent to a PPO-20.