The GOP is attempting to lower healthcare costs, but the American Medical Association (AMA) argues that these efforts will significantly reduce physician income. This doesn’t just affect physicians; it could also result in significant costs to the American public and a further burden on the entire healthcare system.
The healthcare cuts proposed by the GOP come hand-in-hand with policy changes that the administration is focused on. Both of these factors have led to a serious clash between the GOP and those lobbying for the American Medical Association (AMA). Learn more about what this could mean for your medical care costs.
What Is the Basis for the AMA-GOP Fight?
The Medicare payment system is in need of a substantial update. Physician reimbursement rates have dropped significantly in the last couple of decades.
Combined with the rising costs associated with medical practices, doctors are struggling. To make matters worse, Medicare doesn’t offer an inflation-rate annual update to cover rising expenses.
What Happens When Doctors Can’t Afford to Practice?
When physicians can’t afford to maintain their practices, there is less access to the care people need. There are already shortages in the healthcare system, so further reducing the number of available professionals puts a serious burden on everyday people.
This is a particular problem in already underserved communities. Those who live in rural areas or who belong to minority communities can all suffer from a lack of access to medical services. Minority communities tend to have higher rates of chronic illnesses to begin with, and less access will only exacerbate that.
Why Do Medicare Reimbursement Issues Spell Trouble for Patients?
If Medicare reimbursements are problematic, physicians may resort to refusing certain insurance plans. That could cut access to a significant number of people. They might increase costs to cover further expenses, or they could cut their work hours.
Patients who have Medicare may not be able to receive certain services if physicians refuse to accept their insurance. That means worsening conditions and the inability to afford medications for chronic illnesses like fibromyalgia or diabetes.
How Will This Impact Your Access to Care?
Getting access to care may be even more difficult for people who have plans that require them to see in-network providers. Shorter hours or restrictions on services result in patients not getting affordable treatments.
In the long run, patients not receiving care puts a burden on the entire healthcare system. They will depend more on emergency services, which are more expensive, and they may require more invasive treatments for conditions that could have been better managed with reliable access to doctors. This results in higher premiums for everyone.
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Frequently Asked Questions
As the GOP-AMA fight continues, you may have questions about how to afford the care you need.
How Can I Get Affordable Prescription Medications?
Whether you have Medicare coverage or not, you have the option of turning to patient assistance programs to get your prescription medications. These services allow you to get access to discounted rates. At Simplefill, we simplify the process even further by handling all the applications for you. This gives you a better chance of being accepted.
Who Is Most Affected by the GOP-AMA Struggle?
People who have chronic health issues can be severely impacted by the changes that the GOP proposes to Medicare reimbursement. There could be more restrictions on the care they need, which might lead doctors to increase their rates. The elderly are also at risk, especially because they often have more than one chronic medical condition to address.
Do the Proposed Changes to Medicare Offer Benefits for Patients?
For the most part, the changes the GOP proposes are focused on lowering costs, but they don’t offer many benefits for patients. Instead, they will likely see an increase in prices for the services they need. Doctors may face challenges if Medicare’s reimbursement methods for their services change.
Will There Be Cuts to Medicaid?
Medicaid is likely to be affected. The latest GOP bill would cut spending to this program, making it difficult for low-income families to receive assistance.
