The Next Fix

The next episode of the “doc fix”, the postponing or waiving of the physician compensation rate reductions that Congress enacted back in 1999 and has delayed virtually every year since, airs in January 2012. IMO this will constitute a preview of the likely effectiveness of the ACA in controlling the growth of healthcare costs.

If the Congress allows the rate reductions in whole or in part to take place on schedule, it will indicate some actual commitment to controlling costs.

My bet is that, just as has been the case practically every year for the last twelve, the Congress punts. Heck, my guess is that there won’t even be much fuss over it.

10 comments… add one
  • Yep, pissing off the medical lobby in an election year is not something either party is likely to do.

  • jan Link

    If they didn’t ‘punt’ too many doctors would op out.

  • My bet is that, just as has been the case practically every year for the last twelve, the Congress punts. Heck, my guess is that there won’t even be much fuss over it.

    The payout for winning such a bet should be virtually zero, IMO.

  • steve Link

    How will this be a test of the ACA? It needs Congressional approval. Seems more like a test of Congress.

    Steve

  • Icepick Link

    It’s a test of the ACA funding mechanism. A good chunk of the money meant to “pay for” the ACA comes from similar rate reductions.

  • steve Link

    The same thing would occur if we had the Ryan plan. It always hinges on Congress.

    Steve

  • Ben Landon Link

    There’s no such thing as a free lunch. Saying we are going to control HC costs by sticking it to the doctors is an attempt to eat a free lunch. It won’t work. Doctors will either opt out or make up the difference elsewhere. Moreover, there is something offensive about this. It is ecfectively saying “WE have a problem, so YOU must pay for it.” If I’m the YOU in that scenario, I’ll say “fat chance.”

  • Icepick Link

    Ben, the only problem with that is that the problem is that HC costs are far too high, and the costs are growing much faster than the economy. Surely you can see that this will be a problem for the doctors, too?

  • Icepick Link

    Which is to say, the doctors are also part of the WE. Except of course that there’s no “WE” left.

  • If the doc fix goes, so do we. Medicare loses our services and patients contracted with medicare can’t be seen by my physician wife for two years after she drops the plan. No, we can’t see them even if they pay cash. The year the doc fix fails, they better take out that feature of the law or people are going to die.

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