Medicare doctors grow – but so does the struggle to find one

More physicians, many seeing fewer patients

There are more Medicare doctors, but more of them are limiting their access to Medicare patients. The number of doctors billing Medicare rose 32 percent between 2000 and 2010, but three out of ten say they restrict the number of Medicare patients they see – because r eimbursement rates are too low, the program is an unreliable payor, or both. So how many Medicare beneficiaries say they have trouble finding care? Today’s full-size infographic has the story; just click . And us our “What Do Others Say?” section below to get dialed in on the Medicare doctors’ dilemma. How do we know? Check the original sources behind the fact: Medicare Payment Advisory Committee: “Report To The Congress  Medicare Payment Policy” (2012) Medicare Payment Advisory Committee: “Report to the Congress:  Medicare Payment Policy” (2005) American Medical Association: “AMA Online Survey Of Physicians:  The Impact of Medicare Physician Payment on Seniors Access’ To Care” American Academy of Family Physicians: “Facts About Family Medicine”