Government
Physician pay increase cited in higher Medicare beneficiary premiums
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Sept. 20, 2004
Medicare Part B premiums will rise to $78.20 a month in 2005 due in part to the increase in physician payments scheduled to take effect next year, the Dept. of Health and Human Services announced.
Under last year's Medicare law, doctors' reimbursement will go up 1.5% in 2005, rather than falling 4.5% as was originally forecast. Other reasons for the $11.60 jump in beneficiaries' premiums include new benefits, such as the "welcome to Medicare" physical, and a shoring up of the program's trust fund reserves.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2004/09/20/gvbf0920.htm.