Medicare cuts are making it impossible for doctors like me to practice
The government finalized cuts to physician Medicare payments, which significantly impacts the ability of medical practices such as mine to cover expenses like equipment, rent and nursing staff salaries.
Put plainly, our ability to care for our patients and the sustainability of Medicare itself are threatened, putting patients at risk.
As a member of the American Academy of Dermatology, I see health-care consolidation leading to more patient-care costs, disparity of care among those with low-paying insurances, and control of our industry by large non-physician-based groups.
Since 2001, the cost of operating a medical practice increased by 47%, while economy-wide inflation rose 73%. Moreover, Medicare hospital facility updates increased by roughly 70%, significantly outpacing physician reimbursement.
Adjusted for inflation in practice costs, Medicare physician reimbursement declined 26% from 2001 to 2023, according to the Medicare Trustees’ Reports, CBO.
I ask Reps. Andy Biggs and Debbie Lesko to cosponsor the Strengthening Medicare for Patients and Providers Act, which provides an annual inflation update for Medicare physician payments.
Betty Davis, MD, Surprise
Lawmakers won't lower gas prices
It was disappointing to read about the bills being drafted for the next session of the Arizona Legislature. No one cares that we are paying extra money for our gasoline.
The joint committee investigated the issue with no action. I was in Wilkesboro, N.C., over the weekend and paid $1.65 per gallon in that small town. Ten gallons cost me $16.50.
How some lawmakers: Want to lower gas prices
Whereas in Phoenix, it would have cost around $40. What could we do with another $20 per week?
Jim Herbster, Scottsdale
Justice system is far too deadly
One of America’s proudest institutions, our criminal justice system, has failed again.
Columnist Phil Boas is justifiably upset that Derek Chauvin, the police officer who murdered George Floyd, was nearly murdered in prison.
Jeffrey Dahmer and Jeffrey Epstein both died in prison under either violent or suspicious circumstances. This shouldn’t happen in prison or in any contacts with our legal system, but, as usual, it is unlikely there will be serious consequences for those who failed.
A 12-year-old boy with a toy gun is shot dead. An elderly, demented lady with a letter opener is shot dead. A mentally ill young man is tased to death. All completely innocent and no real threat to law enforcement.
Absurdly, contact with our criminal justice system too often risks life or death.
Fixing the system will require a lot of money, purging “bad apples,” holding individuals responsible for their actions and inactions, and just maybe eliminating assault weapons, so police can learn not to react to toys or cellphones as a lethal threat requiring deadly force.
Private prisons don’t help.
Andrew March, Phoenix
Bidenomics are working in Arizona
Third-quarter GDP has been revised to 5.2%. Growth like this means the economy under President Biden is booming. You can feel it when you go out.
This past weekend the freeways were packed with travelers. Northern Arizona was full of tourists and visitors.
We are feeling the impact of Bidenomics. If you are not part of it, then you are just lazy.
Joseph Zanzucchi, Phoenix
This is the Carters' greatest legacy
Broken buildings litter the landscape of our news broadcasts. Tragically, some are the result of the wars in Gaza, Ukraine and other faraway places.
The destructive forces of climate change ravage dwellings through fires, flooding and devastating winds.
Rosalynn and Jimmy Carter spent their years after the White House building houses in the hope that they were rebuilding lives in the process.
Their work with Habitat for Humanity is a legacy we all should aspire to as our fractured political landscape weakens the bonds we have with each other.
Their vision of our future focused on building both figuratively and literally. It’s a focus we need again.
Bob Ellis, Phoenix
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Medicare cuts make it nearly impossible to care for patients
