tci Part B Insider - 2005 Issue 2

Studies & Surveys: No Easy Culprits For Skyrocketing Doc Costs, Report Says

Congress asked the Medicare Payments Advisory Commission to look into a couple of physician-related issues in 2003, and MedPAC finally responded. But the Commission's new reports may raise more questions than they answer. Congress asked MedPAC to study trends in spending for physician services , drugs and lab services. MedPAC said despite the sharp rise in drug spending, direct physician services were the main driver of explosive spending growth by the Part B carriers. MedPAC said it was difficult to say whether the breakneck increase in spending had improved patients' outcomes at all. But the Commission noted some studies showing...

To read the full article, sign in and subscribe to tci Part B Insider.

Thank you for choosing Find-A-Code, please Sign In to remove ads.