Medicare physician payment changes: Impact on physicians and beneficiaries

The Balanced Budget Act (BBA) of 1997 generally reduced Medicare payments f or surgical services while increasing them for other services. Concern abou t implications of these fee reductions prompted the Medicare Payment Adviso ry Commission to sponsor a national survey of physicians to learn their vie ws on Medicare payment and whether access to care has changed for Medicare beneficiaries. Results suggest that beneficiaries' access to care has not d eclined. While physicians are concerned about Medicare reimbursement, they are more concerned about reimbursement from managed care plans and Medicaid . Continued monitoring will be important to detect any emerging access prob lems accompanying upcoming payment reductions.