Club Health Medicare Cuts Would Hurt South Dakota

The 10 percent cut Club Health in Medicare reimbursements to doctors nationwide would cost South Dakota physicians $16 million next year. The cuts would cost South Dakota physicians $620 million by 2016 for the care of elderly and disabled patients, the association says.

Berg disputes critics who blame greedy doctors for escalating health-care costs Club Health. He said new technology and medicines are the primary reasons health-care costs are soaring. Inflation also affects doctors, just like the rest of the economy Club Health.

Berg says doctors who own their own medical practice have a greater stake in providing good patient care than a doctor who is an employee or Club Health, -- worse in his view -- a doctor who works for a state-run medical system Club Health.

Club Health Berg said the federal government has attempted for five or six years to cut Medicare reimbursements. Every year, we've gone to Congress and gotten them to stop the cuts at the last minute Club Health, he said. Right now, we're at the last minute again.