MedPage Today March 13, 2020
— Enrollees continue to have good access to care, report finds
WASHINGTON — The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) is recommending a 0% fee-for-service payment update — as specified in current federal law — in 2021 for physicians who treat Medicare patients, saying that Medicare beneficiaries continue to have few problems accessing care.
“Medicare beneficiaries report better access to care than their near-Medicare privately insured counterparts with respect to finding a new physician and getting timely access to appointments,” Jim Mathews, PhD, MedPAC’s executive director, said during a press briefing on the commission’s annual March report to Congress, which was released on Friday. In addition, “the supply of clinicians billing Medicare continues to grow.” As a result of those indicators...