Hacker News new | ask | show | jobs
by ReallyAnonymous 837 days ago
actually, the problem is that Congress continues to LOWER physician reimbursement, but RAISE hospital reimbursement. When I became a surgeon in 2002, medicare paid $600 for me to take out a gallbladder. I had to pay my overhead (50%) so my take-home was $300. Today, in 2024, after price reductions, medicare pays $600.

That is why I have to be employed. I guarantee that after 22 years, office expenditures (rent, salaries, supplies, health insurance) would eat up the remaining $300. So taking care of Medicare patients would be charity. Medicare is 60% of my practice. Private insurance is 25%. Medicaid is 10% and unfunded is 5%.