by Ginger Rough
The Arizona Republic
October 9, 2009
One of the Mayo Clinic’s two family-medicine practices in Arizona soon will stop accepting Medicare, leaving thousands of patients to pay out of pocket for routine doctor’s visits or find a new physician.
The changes, which go into effect Jan. 1, apply only to primary-care services offered at Mayo Clinic Family Medicine-Arrowhead.
Mayo will accept Medicare for critical care and specialty services at its north Phoenix hospital. Lab services, physical therapy and X-rays at the Glendale family-practice office also will continue to be covered…
…Gorman said Medicare reimbursement rates have remained stagnant over the past decade, while inflation for medical services has increased 4 percent to 8 percent annually.
“Medicare now only covers about half our costs,” Gorman said…
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