The gap between Medicare payment rates and physician practice expenses continues to grow, according to a Medscape report.
Medicare's fee-for-service rates have increased 9 percent in the last decade, compared to practice operating costs, which have climbed 27 percent, according to a report by the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission.
Growth in several areas of practice operations accounts for much of the increase in practice expenses. The volume of tests ordered increased 90.9 percent from 2000 to 2011 and imaging volumes increased 78.9 percent.
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