Deeper Dissection #11

What is "free" care

We’ve seen how Medicare gave “free” care to elderly patients.
But what does “free” actually mean in practice?

Look at our beleaguered patient. Instead of being the centerpiece of our doctor’s visit, he’s faded into the background. The doctor now spends more time battling CPT rules, NCCI edits, Medicare audits, and RVUs than caring for him.

We haven’t even touched on the shortages created by central planning: the endless lines, the appointment delays, the frustration when doctors leave the system after yet another payment cut.

The government promised “free” care. Most people are getting what they paid for.

Today, many Medicare beneficiaries find themselves paying out of pocket for “free” care, concierge primary care, direct pay specialists, or cash clinics, because the official system can’t deliver timely or personalized service.