Editing Medicare (United States) (section)

====Provider participation====
There are two ways for providers to be reimbursed in Medicare. "Participating" providers accept "assignment", which means that they accept Medicare's approved rate for their services as payment (typically 80% from Medicare and 20% from the beneficiary). Some non-participating doctors do not take assignment, but they also treat Medicare enrollees and are authorized to balance bills no more than a small fixed amount above Medicare's approved rate. A minority of doctors are "private contractors" from a Medicare perspective, which means they opt out of Medicare and refuse to accept Medicare payments altogether. These doctors are required to inform patients that they will be liable for the full cost of their services out-of-pocket, often in advance of treatment.<ref>American Medical Association, [http://www.ama-assn.org/ama1/pub/upload/mm/399/medicarepayment08.pdf Medicare Payment Options for Physicians] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150630235834/http://www.ama-assn.org/ama1/pub/upload/mm/399/medicarepayment08.pdf |date=June 30, 2015 }}</ref>

While the majority of providers accept Medicare assignments, (97 percent for some specialties),<ref>Kaiser Family Foundation 2010 Chartbook, [http://facts.kff.org/chart.aspx?cb=58&sctn=163&ch=1742 "Figure 2.15"], {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130405060011/http://facts.kff.org/chart.aspx?cb=58&sctn=163&ch=1742|date=April 5, 2013}}.</ref> and most physicians still accept at least some new Medicare patients, that number is in decline.<ref>Kaiser Family Foundation 2010 Chartbook, [http://facts.kff.org/chart.aspx?cb=58&sctn=163&ch=1742 "Figure 2.16], {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130405060011/http://facts.kff.org/chart.aspx?cb=58&sctn=163&ch=1742|date=April 5, 2013}}.</ref> While 80% of physicians in the Texas Medical Association accepted new Medicare patients in 2000, only 60% were doing so by 2012.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/nextavenue/2013/06/11/what-to-do-if-your-doctor-wont-take-medicare/|title=What To Do If Your Doctor Won't Take Medicare|first=Caroline|last=Mayer|website=forbes.com}}</ref> A study published in 2012 concluded that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) relies on the recommendations of an American Medical Association advisory panel. The study led by Miriam J. Laugesen, of [[Columbia Mailman School of Public Health]], and colleagues at UCLA and the University of Illinois, shows that for services provided between 1994 and 2010, CMS agreed with 87.4% of the recommendations of the committee, known as RUC or the Relative Value Update Committee.<ref>{{cite news |title=Study Finds that the AMA Committee Recommendations on Doctor Fees Are Followed Nine Times out of Ten |author=Laugesen, Miriam |newspaper=The [[National Law Review]] |date=May 10, 2012 |url=http://www.natlawreview.com/article/study-finds-ama-committee-recommendations-doctor-fees-are-followed-nine-times-out-te/ |access-date=June 6, 2012}}</ref>