This story from a Colorado newspaper does a good job of summarizing what happened today to Medicare reimbursement for physicians.

If you have Medicare, you should always be aware of your doctor’s opinions on Medicare policy and how they may adversely affect your access to care.

The issues surrounding these cuts in payments are complex and opinions even vary widely among doctors who take Medicare.

Regardless, you must keep tabs on this issue yourself so you are not surprised to find out one day that your favorite physician has stopped seeing Medicare patients.

This news should simply highlight the fact that when it comes to government involvement in health care, there are no guarantees of consistency or rationality. Have a backup plan in place.