Monterey, CA Doctors Need a Living Wage Reflective Of The Cost Of Living Here, Thank You Sam Farr

View From A Nonprofit Serving Carmel, Carmel Valley, Gonzalez, Greenfield, King City, Marina, Monterey, Pacific Grove, Pebble Beach, Salinas, Seaside And Soledad California

I am happy to be reading that Representative Sam Farr's so called Medicare payment fix appears to have momentum after failing to pass once before.  The "fix" is designed to stop Medicare from reimbursing physicians at rural rates, much lower than urban rates.  This causes many physicians to refuse to take new Medicare patients.  The Medicare Patient Access and Quality Improvement Act, which he introduced, would change that.  He told the Monterey Herald that leadership in the House of Representatives have indicated that the bill will pass.  It would give local doctors an additional $3.8 mil. per year, but perhaps more importantly, attract more doctors to the area which would help seniors.  They sometimes don't seek medical attention because they can't find a doctor who will take their insurance.  Two of our major sponsors, Alliance Home Health and Family inHome Caregiving, witness this on a daily basis.  Many seniors simply don't go to the doctor because they can't afford the gas, the co-pay or simply have a hard time finding a primary physician.  This often results in a hospital visit, costly to the senior and society at large.

Please note that this blog reflects my personal opinion and may or may not reflect the opinion of Hands to Help Seniors and the individual members comprising the Board of Governors.