The change is being proposed because oncologists are often profiting enormously from pumping chemo drugs into patients so the government wants to allow a profit that is closer to 6% above the cost that the doctor pays. Needless to say the doctors who have been profiting from this treatment are not happy. I encourage you to let your voice be heard on the matter, especially those who have been through cancer treatment or those who have family that have been through the process. Cheney might have looked into this angle of cutting costs before blaming it all on patients and greedy lawyers. It's nice to see that some greedy doctors are already playing the fear game with patients.
Some cancer doctors, who along with a few other types of health care providers customarily pocket the difference between what Medicare pays for certain medications and what the drug makers actually charge the doctors, have warned that they will stop caring for Medicare patients if the price cuts become permanent.
Last year, 70 percent of oncologists' income came from drug mark-ups, according to Medicare data.
Fearing the changes, some cancer doctors have sent letters to patients warning that they may have to check themselves into hospitals to receive care or they may soon be given older, more toxic cancer drugs.
