Changing Healthcare and its’ effects on Pain Management Practices

With year 2014 many changes to the healthcare system are coming into affect especially in programs associated with the federal government. “Medicare is looking for ways to save some money on physician reimbursements,” according to Dr. Doug Wisor of the National Spine and Pain Center. Many pain management centers offer cost effective alternatives to hospital care with office procedure suites and ambulatory surgery centers (ASC). The cuts to medicare can range up to 58% for basic treatments such as, epidurals and treatments to herniated discs and leg pain. This reimbursement cut is part of a movement that many doctors believe is an effort to push patients out of private practices and into a hospital setting.

Unfortunately what  patients don’t realize is that doctors at private practices are often able to offer the services at the most affordable cost compared to hospitals’ expensive overhead and fees. With deep cuts of 58% it is likely that many doctors will have to sell their practices and join the hospitals, thus moving the United States closer to a government run healthcare system, like those in place in Canada and England.

Don’t be blindsided by the changes coming to our healthcare system. Stay informed!

This blog is written for informational purposes only and should not be a substitute for actual medical treatment. Please contact the APM Augusta office to schedule an appointment if you are in need of medical care.