Robert Graham Center, AAFP Center for Policy Studies, Releases Medicare Payment Report

"Since the advent of Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) legislation in 1997, avoiding negative adjustments to Medicare payment rates has become an annual ritual of attempting to balance fiscal discipline against threats to health care access for millions of Americans. Citing payments that scarcely meet their overhead costs, primary care physicians find themselves increasingly forced to consider limiting or ceasing to see Medicare patients. Even against this backdrop, Medicare payments and access faced a unique challenge in tech summer of 2008 in which several overlapping cuts were proposed. Most Primary care physicians do not fully appreciate the extent to which these cuts could have affected or may again impact payment and access in their states.

The Robert Graham Center is pleased to make available a 2-page state-specific guide to medicare cuts. We analyzed the actual and proposed cuts from 2008 as a way to prepare physicians to understand the many ways in which future changes might affect their practice. The state footprint is associated with a national-level study, "Threats to Medicare Physician Reimbursement and their Geographic Variation, 20085 and 2010" that should be released shortly. This 2 pager presents state-specific projections at a glance, but also offers concise summary and review of the basics of Medicare payment and incentives."

To access Louisiana's state footprint, visit http://www.graham-center.org/online/graham/home/tools-resources/maps/maps/medicare-payment.html

You may also click here to view a two page pdf version:

Page 1 of Medicare Payment Report

Page 2 of Medicare Payment Report