MORRISVILLE, NC – Eight-seven percent of cardiologists say the new 2010 CMS Physician Fee Schedule could force them to stop accepting Medicare patients, reduce staff or shut down their practice completely, according to a new survey.

The American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) released the initial results of its survey, which indicated that 63 percent of the respondents serve a patient population in which more than half are reimbursed by Medicare Part B. Also, almost a third of respondents provide services in an area that is rural, medically underserved or both, and the nearest provider of echocardiography services for 74 percent of the respondents is a hospital.

"The negative effects of these cuts are immeasurable and numerous," said one respondent. "If fully implemented, the result will be delays in service, higher hospital admissions and probably more deaths due to undiagnosed heart conditions."

As indicated by the survey, actions currently being considered by the echocardiography service providers most affected by the PFS payment cuts are:

• 64 percent would delay the purchase of echo equipment;
• 56 percent would lay off sonographers or other staff;
• 53 percent would reduce staff salaries;
• 47 percent might reduce staff benefits, such as 401K programs or healthcare;
• 23 percent would refrain from accepting Medicare patients for any services;
• 19 percent are considering closing a satellite office(s) or have already closed a satellite office(s); 60 percent of these are located in rural areas.

Those who are indirectly affected by the cuts (those who receive payment through the Hospital Outpatient Payment System,)  are expecting an increased workload (74 percent), longer wait times for patients (67 percent), lengthened turnaround time for reports (44 percent), and increased overtime for staff or the need to hire additional cardiac sonographers (43 percent).

"If private practices close their doors because they can no longer afford to provide these services, patients will be forced to go to the hospital," said Ben Byrd, MD, Advocacy Chair of ASE. "This could be a life or death situation for Medicare patients, especially those in rural areas who can't get to a hospital in a timely manner."