Most Popular Choices
Share on Facebook 32 Printer Friendly Page More Sharing
OpEdNews Op Eds   

Doctors plan to use balance billing

By       (Page 1 of 1 pages)   2 comments

 

Doctors nationwide fight for the right to return to "balance billing" in which case patients would be responsible for costs not allowed by Medicare .or private insurance. The Doctors claim declining revenues have not kept pace with costs, making a return to balance billing imperative. Some doctors who support balance billing say that "we offer a service and we should be paid for it; you may have no choice," because you may find that you have no doctor if our costs are not covered.

Insurance companies who oppose balance billing say it would destroy gains made in holding down rising premium costs. AARP is against the concept, describing balance billing as nothing more than a cost shift that will hurt patients.

Doctors had the right to balance-bill until 1989, when states and Congress began putting limits on how much they could bill back to patients above the co-payment and reimbursement amounts approved by Medicare. Few in the general public were aware of the change. Traditional insurance and managed-care plans soon followed suit. Ever since, the American Medical Association and other physician groups tried repeatedly to have unlimited balance billing rights reinstated.

On December 3, the American Medical Association voted in favor of renewing the fight for balance billing which they say is more critical than ever because of a ten percent cut in Medicare doctors’ reimbursements set for July 1.

Source:

Donna Wright, Bradenton Herald, P1, Feb.3

Rate It | View Ratings

Kenneth Briggs Social Media Pages: Facebook page url on login Profile not filled in       Twitter page url on login Profile not filled in       Linkedin page url on login Profile not filled in       Instagram page url on login Profile not filled in

An OEN Editor. Born-03/20/1934, BA Pol. Sci.-U of Washington-1956, MBA-Seattle U-1970, Boeing-Program Control-1957-1971, State of Oregon-Mental Health Division-Deputy Admistrator-1971-1979, llinois Association of Community MH (more...)
 
Go To Commenting
The views expressed herein are the sole responsibility of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of this website or its editors.
Writers Guidelines

 
Contact AuthorContact Author Contact EditorContact Editor Author PageView Authors' Articles
Support OpEdNews

OpEdNews depends upon can't survive without your help.

If you value this article and the work of OpEdNews, please either Donate or Purchase a premium membership.

STAY IN THE KNOW
If you've enjoyed this, sign up for our daily or weekly newsletter to get lots of great progressive content.
Daily Weekly     OpEd News Newsletter
Name
Email
   (Opens new browser window)
 

Most Popular Articles by this Author:     (View All Most Popular Articles by this Author)

Native Americans: They Were Seen as Savages

Doctors plan to use balance billing

Hopi Indian Nation

The Bush Legacy Propaganda

NAMI - The Nations Voice on Mental Illness

To View Comments or Join the Conversation:

Tell A Friend