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. 1990 Summer;11(4):133-46.

Volume and intensity of Medicare physicians' services: an overview

T L Kay  1
Affiliations

Volume and intensity of Medicare physicians' services: an overview

T L Kay. Health Care Financ Rev. 1990 Summer.

Abstract

From 1978 to 1987, Medicare spending for physicians' services increased at annual compound rates of 16 percent, far exceeding increases expected based on inflation and increases in beneficiaries. As a result, Medicare spending for Part B physicians' services has attracted considerable attention. This article contains an overview of expenditure trends for Part B physicians' services, a summary of recent research findings on issues related to volume and intensity of physicians' services, and a discussion of options for controlling volume and intensity. The possible impact of the recently enacted relative-value-based free schedule on volume and intensity of services is discussed briefly.

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