Citing an example of the Medicare cuts in a in a letter to patients, Pacific Heart Institute noted the Medicare payment for a mid-level new patient evaluation fell from $110.74 in 2009 to $87.07 this year.
To make up for the loss, the practice offered three levels of convenience services for an extra price:
- “Priority appointments” and other basic services at $500 a year.
- The ability to e-mail doctors, schedule same-day visits and other privileges for $1,800 a year.
- Access to the physician’s personal cell phone number and the privilege to call it at all times, even nights and weekends, for $7,500 a year.
While physicians are not allowed to charge Medicare beneficiaries fees above the set Medicare rate, they can charge separate fees for services Medicare does not cover.
Read Kaiser Health News’ report on Medicare payments.
