Should Physicians Be Able to Refuse to Care for Patients Insured by Medicare?

Abstract

This commentary on a case considers whether and to what extent refusal to care for Medicare patients is a form of "turfing." Medicare is a federal program to provide insurance for people over age 65, those who have certain disabilities, and those with end-stage renal disease; eligibility criteria include contributions from wages and salaries during a patient's working career. Although all clinicians in the United States can care for Medicare patients, some opt out, resulting in harms to eligible patients and in oversubscription of remaining clinical practices. Opting out should be reconsidered, given that resident training is supported by Medicare funding. Although patients who receive services upon engaging with a health care practice might believe that they are under the care of a clinician, any harms of administrative nonadherence to practice guidelines accrue to the clinician.