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US doctors call for simpler Medicare rules
Fred Charatan
| The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below. |
The American Medical Association and doctors groups representing different specialties are seeking relief from burdensome regulations that have resulted in many doctors refusing to accept new patients under Medicare, the healthcare programme for Americans aged over 65.
The doctors' drive comes at a time when the Bush administration and Congress are reviewing the Health Care Financing Administration and its management of Medicare. An annual audit of Medicare payments to doctors, hospitals, and other healthcare providers showed an error rate of 6.8% in the financial year 2000, representing an estimated $11.9bn (£8bn) in improper payments.
Two key committees of the US House of Representatives have begun
hearings to review the administration's major programmes, policies,
and operations. The House Energy and Commerce Committee recently wrote
to Tommy Thompson, the secretary of the Department of Health and Human
Services, protesting at the administration's complicated rules. It
wrote: "Governed by an estimated 130000 pages of
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