Could the fiscal cliff hit Medicare doctors the hardest?

While the United States is days away from the new budget, many of the doctors serving Medicare are most worried about how hard it will hit their bottom line.  As we draw closer to January 1, many fear that it's the Medicare budget that will be hit the hardest, leaving physicians without $10,000-$35,000 of their current pay after a 27% cut in the budget.  While this has been a temporary cut in the past years, a stopgap is unlikely this time.  Forbes reports that in addition to the physicians, Health Plans could be affected with doctors withdraw from them because they can't afford to keep running at the reimbursement rate the government can provide.

During the Stars Summit at The Medicare Congress 2013, the session Survive A Dip In Reimbursement Rates will look at how plans can prepare for lower reimbursement rates, which may become a reality after Congress decides on the plan of action to avoid the fiscal cliff.  For more information on this session and the rest of the program, download the agenda.  If you'd like to join us this February at The Medicare Congress, register and mention code XP1807BLOG and save 15% off the standard rate.

What do you think the ultimate impact on plans will be if doctors bottom lines are hit with up to a $35,000 loss in their reimbursement rates?