Survey shows 81% of seniors think Congress may not find solution for physician payments for Medicare

An independent survey of 441 seniors 65 years old and up revealed that 81% do not think Congress will find a long-term solution for physician payments for Medicare in 2011. Further, 89% surveyed believe doctors will stop accepting Medicare patients if a planned 23% cut in Medicare reimbursements for physicians services that was scheduled to go into effect on January 1, 2011 is implemented. The Senate approved a one-year extension to the delay on December 8, 2010 by a vote of 99-0; the House approved the extension a day later by a vote of 409-2.

The survey was fielded December 10-17, 2010 by Extend Health, Inc., which operates the largest private Medicare exchange in the country.

Detailed results from the survey are as follows:

Do you think Congress will find a long-term solution for physician payments for Medicare in 2011?

There was a scheduled 23% Medicare pay cut to physicians that would have started January 1, 2011, which Congress delayed. Do you think a Medicare pay cut to doctors would…