Medicare Update: AMA Identifies Access Hot Spots for Physician Care

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The American Medical Association (AMA) recently identified at least 20 states (and the District of Columbia) as "access hot spots" in which Medicare beneficiaries may be facing problems getting physician care.

The AMA believes that the access problems in those states will get worse unless Congress eliminates the scheduled 21.5 percent Medicare payment rate reduction for physician services in 2010 and repeals the current Medicare physician payment formula.

The states identified as "access hot spots" include Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Montana, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, West Virginia and Wyoming.

For more information (including state specific information), visit the "Access Hot Spots" list and links.
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