Report: Docs still accepting Medicare patients

The number of physicians who accepted new Medicare patients rose from 87.9 percent in 2005 to 90.7 percent in 2012, according to a new report from the HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE). The issue brief looked at the degree to which physicians accept new Medicare and privately insured patients and Medicare beneficiaries' access to care before and after the enactment of the Affordable Care Act. According to the report: The percentage of physicians who accept new Medicare patients is similar to, and in recent years slightly higher than, the percentage accepting new privately insured patients; and Medicare beneficiary access to care is high and has remained stable over the past five years. Report (.pdf)