Most CT doctors will reduce Medicare participation if rates are cuts

An online survey by the CT State Medical Society found that 78% of the 360 state physicians who responded would restrict access to care for Medicare and TRICARE patients if rates are cut. Nineteen percent of respondents would stop taking any Medicare or TRICARE patients at all, 31% would limit the number of new patients and 28% would only continue seeing current patients. However it is unclear whether many physicians will be able to restrict their participation in the programs that cover more than 600,000 state residents, particularly in specialties that disproportionately treat elderly health issues. Since the survey was conducted, the scheduled rate cuts were postponed from Dec. 1st to Jan. 1.
Ellen Andrews