Physician attitudes and behavior in response to changes in Medicare reimbursement policies

BACKGROUND. Rapidly changing Medicare reimbursement policies since 1983 have affected every primary care physician. This study has attempted to quantify the attitudes and behaviors of Ohio primary care physicians toward these changes. METHODS. In Ohio, 1758 primary care physicians were surveyed by a mailed questionnaire about their attitudes toward recent changes in Medicare reimbursement policies and the resulting changes in their practices. RESULTS. More than 80% of respondents termed most Medicare policies as "objectionable" or "very objectionable." Fifty percent were limiting the number of Medicare patients in their practices. Family physicians and physicians who perceived their income to have decreased and their staff workload to have increased were also more likely to limit the number of Medicare patients in their practices. CONCLUSIONS. Ohio primary care physicians have a negative opinion of Medicare reimbursement policies and have limited their practices significantly as a result.