Report: More doctors accepting Medicare patients

WASHINGTON — The number of physicians accepting new Medicare patients rose by one-third between 2007 and 2011 and is now higher than the number of physicians accepting new private insurance patients, according to a Department of Health and Human Services report obtained by USA TODAY. In 2007, about 925,000 doctors billed Medicare for their services. In 2011, that number had risen to 1.25 million, according to the report by the HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation. Physicians have complained about Medicare payment caps, the annual debate in Congress over the way Medicare pays doctors and new paperwork requirements.