Government
Doctors to fight for better Medicare infusion therapy pay
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Jan. 5, 2004
Many oncologists are concerned that under new Medicare reimbursement rates they likely will suffer significant financial losses when they provide cancer patients with infusions in their offices.
The American Medical Association House of Delegates at its Interim Meeting in December 2003 voted to support efforts to boost Medicare payments to a level that fully covers doctors' cost for acquiring, storing and providing the medication and for related services.
Physicians worry that if Medicare doesn't pay adequately, patients' access to outpatient infusion therapy will worsen, especially in rural areas.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2004/01/05/gvbf0105.htm.