Are Austin doctors accepting new Medicare patients? (Howe: insurance, loans)

[wehotex]

I keep reading that fewer docs are accepting Medicare, but I wonder if it's just hype or reality?

[GreenPlastic]

Most of the primary care docs we see take Medicare but many of the specialists don't. I think the general trend is actually opposite that.

[joedtx]

Were you possibly thinking of 'Medicaid' rather than 'Medicare' ?

[motherofthree]

There are problems with Medicare and Medicaid. When my husband's grandmother moved in with us last year, we had a hard time finding a doctor who was accepting NEW Medicare patients. Apparently doctors have a percentage of patients they can take with Medicare and once they are at that number they can refuse any new patients. I must have called a dozen primary doctor offices before I found one which happened to be ADC.

My neighbor is a doctor and he explained to me about the low reimbursement rate for Medicare patients - which is true - but it is frustrating when you are trying to find a new doctor.

[GreenPlastic]

Yep, meant Medicaid in my response. Sorry.

[neddy]

My mom is making the area her new homebase (full time rver) and she has had loads of trouble also finding any drs on the north side nw austin taking new folks..they said they are not wanting to because they dont know how a health care bill would affect the payments..I don't think its a good reason but hey its their dollar..

[RowdysMom]

You may find it a bit easier if you have a good supplemental policy - that is, one that fills in the space between what Medicare reimburses, and what the docs want to charge. However, some docs only take a percentage of Medicare patients in their practice and so it doesn't matter if you have supplemental insurance or not - but I think it does help in some cases.

[wehotex]

Originally Posted by motherofthree

There are problems with Medicare and Medicaid. When my husband's grandmother moved in with us last year, we had a hard time finding a doctor who was accepting NEW Medicare patients. Apparently doctors have a percentage of patients they can take with Medicare and once they are at that number they can refuse any new patients. I must have called a dozen primary doctor offices before I found one which happened to be ADC.

My neighbor is a doctor and he explained to me about the low reimbursement rate for Medicare patients - which is true - but it is frustrating when you are trying to find a new doctor.

what is ADC?

[RowdysMom]

Austin Diagnostic Clinic

[joedtx]

Originally Posted by GreenPlastic

Yep, meant Medicaid in my response. Sorry.

Ok that helps clarify. First of all Medicaid providers are somewhat limited, more so than providers that accept Medicare patients. This is due to an even lower reimbursement rate on procedures performed.

Most providers currently making very little or sometimes work at cost for this government based services, most providers that have open rosters are usually upstart physician groups or doctors. There are number or reasons for this usually the government services will deny in network status to vital commercial insurance such as Tri-Care and or provide incentives such as debt reduction on government backed loans most cut ties as soon as their obligation is fullfilled

Right now most of us in Healthcare are terrified of Obamacare we are looking at a 22 to 25 percent reduction in government procedure reimbursements. We'll have to reduce even more I see to many times where we have seen a pateint at a loss, more expenses I better start polishing up my resume

Sorry to get back on topic I would start with which Medicare product you subscribe to and do a Zip search for available providers with open rosters their customer service should be able to assist. Best of luck on your search.