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Post-presidential debate poll shows a shift in WI; Teamsters won't endorse in presidential race after releasing internal polling showing most members support Trump; IL energy jobs growth is strong but lacks female workers; Pregnant, Black Coloradans twice as likely to die than the overall population.

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The Teamsters choose not to endorse a presidential candidate, county officials in Texas fight back against state moves to limit voter registration efforts, and the FBI investigate suspicious packages sent to elections offices in at least 17 states.

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A USDA report shows a widening gap in rural versus urban health, a North Carolina county remains divided over a LGBTQ library display, and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz' policies are spotlighted after his elevation to the Democratic presidential ticket.

Doctors for Seniors May Soon Be in Short Supply

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Thursday, December 20, 2012   

LUMBERTON, N.C. - Less than two weeks are left for Congress to prevent a cut to reimbursements for doctors who treat Medicare patients. The cuts stem from a formula Congress has used for 15 years to determine how much doctors are paid. This year, a potential 26-percent cut is looming.

Family physician Dr. Brian Kessler, Lumberton, says the system discourages doctors like him, who are trying to meet their own overhead costs and turn a profit.

"Practice costs have gone up, yet physicians are looking at a reduction in their Medicare reimbursements, so a lot of physicians are not going to opt to take on new Medicare patients."

Kessler and other doctors are pushing Congress to find a permanent solution to negotiate reimbursement rates and to do away with the current formula system that creates uncertainties almost every year. Some seniors in North Carolina are already reporting difficulty in finding doctors who will accept them as new patients, he warns.

Kessler points out that 10,000 Americans will turn 65 every day for the next 19 years, which will eventually double the number of people who use Medicare.

"We want to do the best for our patients. When you can't continue to provide adequate services because the cost of providing those services outweighs that payment, it just makes it more and more difficult."

The cost to fix the Medicare reimbursement problem will only increase. According to Kessler, in 2005, it would have cost less than $50 billion. This year the cost is an estimated $250 billion.




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