Approximately 75% of physicians have a patient base that is at least 11% covered by Medicare in 2024, according to Medscape's 2024 "Doctors Evaluate Medicare and Medicaid Report," published July 12.
Here are seven additional notes on physicians and Medicare in 2024:
1. About 71% of physicians are either somewhat supportive (23%), supportive (31%) or very supportive (17%) of continuing to treat Medicare patients moving forward.
2. About 6% of physicians are currently trying to limit the number of Medicare patients treated at their practices, while 76% are not.
3. Physicians working for healthcare organizations were somewhat likelier to expect a bigger Medicare role in their business in 2024.
4. Medicare reimbursement cuts have affected the majority of physicians, with 30% seeing a large effect, 47% seeing a moderate effect and 18% seeing a small effect.
5. A majority of physicians, 54%, report having a neutral experience dealing with Medicare in the past, while 38% have had an unfavorable experience.
6. A large majority of physicians find Medicare claims submissions to be either very (13%), moderately (35%) or somewhat (41%) complex.
7. A majority of physicians see slow Medicare reimbursement times as either a serious (18%) or moderate (46%) issue.