SEPT. 1, 2000

Medi-Minutes
Doctors' Group Chooses Medicine Over Medicare
 
According to a news release by the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons (AAPS), "Medicare endangers seniors, rations care and punishes the best doctors whose only aim is to give the best care. For the sake of patients and integrity of the profession, doctors should get out of Medicare."

A recent AAPS survey of doctors revealed that Medicare rules and government threats to prosecute doctors make it more difficult for seniors to receive appropriate, necessary, and timely medical care because doctors are afraid to treat tricky cases or to take on new patients. Doctors spend less time practicing medicine and more complying with over 110,000 pages of government regulations.

"Spin the wheel in favor of your patient, go to jail or pay tens of thousands of dollars," said Dr. Jan Orient, AAPS Executive Director. "The people President Clinton calls Medicare cheats are often doctors who give patients the best care. But if a government bureaucrat deems the treatment unnecessary or inappropriate, it’s called fraud, and the doctor is pronounced a criminal."

Medicare has also threatened criminal prosecution against doctors who provide free medical care to beneficiaries, saying it is illegal not to file a claim for payment. But many members of AAPS have resigned from Medicare, treating patients for no charge anyway. Dr. John Bennett published a "Declaration of Independence from Medicare" stating, "I find that I must choose between the practice of Medicine and the practice of Medicare; I choose the practice of Medicine."