AMA Survey of M.D.'s: Medicare Advantage plans suck!

"The results of our new survey of physician experience with Medicare Advantage plans are troubling," according to AMA Board Chair Cecil Wilson, M.D.

"More than half of the physicians report that their patients in a Medicare Advantage HMO or PPO plan were denied coverage of services typically covered in the traditional Medicare plan, and 84 percent reported patients have had difficulty understanding how the plan works," said Dr. Wilson.

Source - All Headline News

http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7007429275

Doctors' Experiences With Medicare Advantage Plan "Bleak" Says AMA Survey

May 23, 2007 11:06 a.m. EST

Patricia Shehan - AHN Staff Writer Chicago, IL (AHN) - The American Medical Association (AMA) announced the results of a new survey on Tuesday that indicates doctors' experiences with the Medicare Advantage plans are "bleak."

The AMA provided a statement to the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Health that highlighted the findings of the survey, expressing the concerns of physicians across the country.

"The results of our new survey of physician experience with Medicare Advantage plans are troubling," according to AMA Board Chair Cecil Wilson, M.D.

"More than half of the physicians report that their patients in a Medicare Advantage HMO or PPO plan were denied coverage of services typically covered in the traditional Medicare plan, and 84 percent reported patients have had difficulty understanding how the plan works," said Dr. Wilson.

"The private health plans were supposed to inject competition into the Medicare program, but instead we've ended up with a federal handout to the insurance industry," Dr. Wilson adds.

"Eliminating the overpayments to the insurance companies will save Medicare $65 billion over five years, according to the government's own estimate," said Dr. Wilson.

The AMA's written statement included the call for a "staunch support of fiscal neutrality between the regular Medicare program and the Medicare Advantage program," in which 51 percent of doctors reported that the Medicare Advantage payments are below the traditional rates of Medicare.

According to the physician survey, 45 percent of the physicians' patients who are in a Medicare Advantage private fee-for-service plan have been denied services that were typically, previously covered in the traditional Medicare plan. Another 80 percent of doctors reported that their patients have had difficulty understanding how the private fee-for-service plan even works.

"It's shameful that under current law Medicare will slash payments to doctors well below the cost of caring for seniors, while increasing payments to highly profitable managed care companies. Congress has to make a choice-preserve access to care for all seniors by stopping next year's Medicare cut to doctors, or continue to help insurance companies line investors' pockets," as written in the AMA statement.