One of the biggest social and political issues of the past year has been the debate over health care reform in America.  Campaigns were centered around the topic but regardless of what side of the political fence you find yourself, most Americans agree that a change is sorely needed.  Unfortunately, senior citizens are getting caught in the middle of all of the turmoil.  Of course for those Americans middle aged and younger, health care is important, but for many seniors, it is a daily concern.  Whether it be expensive medications that are needed everyday, extended stays in  nursing homes , or any other medical issue, there are a large number of reasons for seniors to be concerned with the outcome of this reform.

The latest battle in this ongoing war is the proposed  21% decrease in Medicare reimbursements.  The initial date for cutbacks to begin was March 1st, but The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services stepped in and have self imposed a 10 day grace period, where they will not be paying out any doctors reimbursements.  This is to give the Senate more time to develop, what they are hoping, a better solution.  The Senate's intention for the cutbacks is to eliminate the overspending found in the Medicare program.  In many cases, doctors have been found to overcharge their patients or even "pad" their bills to generate more revenues for themselves at the expense of Medicare.  Of course, this will affect all doctors, many who rely on Medicare covered individuals as a significant portion of their patient base.  One physician, Dr. William Shrieber , figured out that if the intended cutbacks take place, he will lose $3 of every $5 he makes from Medicare reimbursements.  This would put him "in the red" and he would be unable to keep and treat his Medicare patients. With 43 million people in America enrolled in Medicare, a great number of  doctors would be affected by these cutbacks.  Most of the physicians interviewed said they would not be able afford to treat people with Medicare.  They would limit their care to those with private insurance or private pay.  Schrieber states that 30% of his patients have Medicare coverage, a percentage he could not continue treating with the proposed cutbacks.  This leaves a lot of people, mostly seniors, who will have to pay out more of their own money or seek health care elsewhere.

Finding and establishing a relationship with a doctor is important to most people seeking health care.  It's even more important for seniors, who see their physicians on more of a regular basis.  Years of treating a person gives a doctor a much needed base of background information.  This instills security in the patient as well as enables the doctor to give very personalized care.  If doctors are forced to turn away or drop their Medicare patients, those individuals will have to find a new doctor that accepts Medicare or may even have to seek treatment at a local clinic.  Switching doctors can be traumatic for people, especially seniors who have invested time and faith in their personal physician. For those who switch to a clinic, they may find that the personal care they are accustomed to is no longer available.  With longer waits in the office, many elderly may find it uncomfortable to visit a clinic and not go as often as they should or when they do go, may even feel rushed so that the doctor can see the next patient.

Hopefully, for everyone's sake (especially senior citizens), a realistic and functional proposal can be reached soon.  Though it is extremely important to make decisions that ensure the future of programs like Medicare, it is equally important to consider those people who rely on it today.

Medicare logo photo courtesy of dmepos-bond.com

Multi-pane photo courtesy of www.sptimes.com