Despite concerns that Medicare’s efforts to control spending on physician services will curtail beneficiaries’ access to physicians, a new GAO report found that more Medicare beneficiaries are receiving physician services--44.8% of Medicare beneficiaries received physician services in 2005 compared with 41.3% in 2000. Also, the volume of physician or provider services has increased by 14% in the past five years, from 3,433 services per 1,000 beneficiaries in 2000 to 3,925 in 2005. During this time period, the number of physicians accepting Medicare patients did not decline, and only 7% of patients nationwide reported having major difficulties finding a physician or scheduling appointments. Those who had the most problems obtaining care from providers were in poor health, under 65 and disabled, not white, and had no supplemental health insurance.
