Re: Do we have to accept Medicare?

[Guest guest]

Thanks a lot, now i feel guilty. lol.

A joint replacement ortho probably is on salary at the hospital and if in private practice most likely would require additional payment. My beef is less with re-imbursement amount and more with red tape. I too felt these folks "deserve our care", but eventually realized we deserve to be fairly treated as well and are not at all in that system. By the way, none of the medicare folks flinched when asked to pay cash discounted rate in the future.

Theres got to be a better way.

ph Medlin, DCSpine Tree Chiropractic1627 NE Alberta St.Portland, OR 97211

Do we have to accept Medicare?

For all of you who wonder about Medicare, I have been taking Medicarefor personal reasons since I started practice 25 years ago, and hopethere will be those out there who take it when I get of the age. Though their reimbursement rate is not great, we provide a greatservice to these patients and I believe they deserve our care. Ifthis means we take a reduced reimbursement, fine. They really don'tmake up that big of a percentage of our practices anyway. Can youimagine how a joint replacement ortho feels?If you don't want to take Medicare any more, stop. I don't believeyou have to do anything. When a Medicare patient calls, simply tellthem you no longer take that form of insurance. may be able toshed some more light on this, but I don't think you have to get out. In fact, there is question if, as chiropractors, once you start takingMedicare, you can opt out. Not totally sure on this.But, just have your receptionist tell new Medicare patients you nolonger take their insurance. As for your current patients, I feel itis your responsibility to care for them, and try to find a dc that islike yourself in tx skill to start seeing them.This is just my ranting for the morning, have a nice day. Grice, DCAlbany, OR