The "Doc Fix"

A recent editorial at The Chicago Tribune looks at the the Medicare situation many doctors refer to as the "Doc Fix." Many doctors have left Medicare as a result of the diminishing pay from the government. If doctors reach the maximum payment they can receive, a fee cut kicks in and they are paid less for their work. This is even after the standard rate for Medicare per visit is lower than private insurers and those who visit uninsured. Congress has suspended these pay cuts many times over the past few years, but The Chicago Tribune suggests that with the current changes in Medicare, Congress finally fixes this problem. The government should find a balanced answer and pay rate that can promote quality and efficient care. They also look to Dr. Donald Berwick, new head of Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, to solve this problem. Read the full editorial here.