MedPAC said 83 percent of Medicare patients seeking care for illness or injury reported never having to wait longer than desired to see a doctor, compared to 80 percent for the private-pay patients ages 50-64.
Also, 79 percent of Medicare patients seeking a new primary care physician in 2010 reported no problem in finding a physician, compared to 69 percent for private-pay patients.
However, the AMA and other organizations warn physicians would restrict access to Medicare if the sustainable growth rate is implemented for Medicare payments and physicians’ fees are cut by 23 percent. Even if the SGR is replaced, policymakers predict an impending shortage of physicians.
Read The Hill report on access to physicians.
Read more coverage on physician access:
– AMA Leader: Failure to Avert Looming Fee Cut Would be ‘Catastrophe’
– Shortage of Family Medicine Physicians Exacerbated by Salaries Less Than Half of Specialist Pay
– States Seek Residency Program Funds to Prepare for Provider Shortage
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