Today, physicians may choose to privately contract with their Medicare patients, though very few do. Under such arrangements, providers can charge any amount they deem appropriate, rather than be bound by Medicare’s set fees and billing limits, so long as the patients agree. Some policymakers support broadening the conditions under which providers can privately contract with people with Medicare for the price of their services.
Any changes to the Medicare program must aim for healthier people, better care, and smarter spending—not paying more for less. As policymakers debate the future of health care, we will provide our insights here.
Thinking ahead to Medicare's future, it’s important to modernize benefits and pursue changes that improve how people with Medicare navigate their coverage on a daily basis. Here are our evolving 30 policy goals for Medicare’s future.
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