AN OPEN LETTER TO MY PATIENTS
ABOUT THE MEDICARE PROGRAM

Dear Patient:

As your physician, I want you to know that I am concerned about Medicare fraud. The American Medical Association (AMA) has worked diligently over the years with Congress and agencies of the federal government to root out real fraud.

Physicians are concerned about the simplistic approach the federal government is currently taking towards addressing Medicare fraud. In press releases and policies, the federal government frequently lumps honest billing mistakes together with intentional fraud. The result is that the patient-physician relationship is harmed and physicians are buried in paperwork.

As you know, Medicare is extremely complicated. Today, physicians must comply with more than 100,000 pages of Medicare rules and regulations. As a result of the complexity of the program, billing errors do occur. My first and foremost duty is to provide you with the best medical care.

Complying with federal Medicare requirements is forcing me to spend a great deal more time and expense on administration. This means that I and my office staff have less time to spend on direct patient care. Although this is a disservice to you and my other patients, I must go along with these rules – or else drop out of the Medicare program for good.

AMA physicians are urging the federal government to simplify Medicare regulations and to educate physicians on what we need to do to comply with the requirements. We are hopeful that the federal government will tone down its rhetoric that labels honest physicians as criminals, and instead focus on identifying those individuals who are truly committing intentional fraud and bilking the taxpayers.

Inadvertent billing errors are bound to occur in a program as complex as Medicare. Like most physicians, I am trying my best to comply with the extremely complicated Medicare program. If you believe you have found an error, please bring it to my attention. You can call the office at 515-224-7088 and ask to speak to the Office Manager or Billing. I want to be helpful and answer your questions. You should feel confident and comfortable about the medical care that you receive from me. Thank you for listening to my concerns. I am always available to listen to yours.

Sincerely,

Vincent L. Angeloni M.D.