March 1 is a notable date for physicians; it’s the date when Medicare physician payment cuts across the country are slated to be cut by about 21 percent.

The cuts were slated to go into effect Jan. 1, but Congress delayed the cuts until later in the year.

The Texas Medical Association has been tracking the developments, and the following statement is from Dr. William Fleming III, president of the TMA, which is the largest state medical society in the nation and represents nearly 45,000 physicians.

“We’re just four days from a Medicare meltdown in this great country. The effects of the Medicare disaster go far beyond Medicare patients. In fact, it could affect every single Texan. Here is why: Most health insurance companies base their payments to physicians on Medicare rates. In some cases, insurance companies reduce their rates every time Congress freezes or cuts physician Medicare rates. But they don’t bother to freeze the premiums our patients and their employers are paying.

“For the past nine years, the cost of running a doctor’s office has increased dramatically. At the same time, what the government pays your doctor to care for Medicare patients has not kept pace. The flawed payment system is unsustainable. Since 2001, physicians’ costs have gone up 20 percent more than physicians’ Medicare payments. In fact, come March 1, when the 21.2 percent cut goes into effect, physicians will receive less from Medicare than they currently receive from Medicaid. This is appalling because no one pays less than Medicaid.
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