Doctors are unhappy with new Medicare reimbursement rates. They’re threatening to stop caring for those with government-subsidized health insurance. But is there another option?

More on that in a moment on the Face The State Radio Minute.

Doctors and pharmacists are up in arms over proposed cuts to Medicare reimbursements, which doctors collect from the government for caring for those on state-subsidized healthcare. Some providers are saying they may stop seeing those patients, who are often most in need.

I sympathize with these doctors’ concerns, but where there’s a problem, there’s oftentimes a creative solution. Instead of having the government play middle-man, physicians’ practices are free to negotiate cash pay rates for any or all of their patients. Many already offer discounts to those who pay cash up-front for their care, and a dollar in-hand is often more valuable than two promised from Uncle Sam. Instead rate schedules and weird repayment arrangements, let’s allow doctors and patients freely negotiate rates.

For FaceTheState.com, I’m Brad Jones.