Providers concerned over 'physician's tax' moving through state legislature
Health care providers around the state and Ann Arbor are reacting with mixed feelings about a measure moving through the state legislature that's being called the "physician's tax."
A bill passed by the Michigan House earlier this month would tack a 3 percent tax on the gross revenue of physicians' offices to finance reimbursement payments to offices that provide Medicaid services.
It might incentivize physicians to treat more patients with Medicaid or provide services in more low income areas. But it could also create unfair financial hurdles, say some providers quoted in an article about the tax in the Detroit Free Press today.
What do you think about it?
Check back for updates later in the day.
Tina Reed covers health and the environment for AnnArbor.com. You can reach her at tinareed@annarbor.com, call her at 734-623-2535 or find her on Twitter @TreedinAA.
Comments
Tort Reform
Wed, Oct 14, 2009 : 9:04 a.m.
Just as a tax on any business is a tax on the patrons of that business, a tax on doctors is really a tax on their patients. How the state can justify taking money from sick people is beyond me. The greed of our entitlement government knows no bounds, or morals. Vote them out.
outdoor6709
Wed, Oct 14, 2009 : 7:37 a.m.
My father-in-law once told me he ecame a Democrat when he learned how to read. To bad he can read and still not comprehend what he reads. Michigan has a 15% unemployement rate and our solution to the problem in Michigan is always to tax someone to generate more revenue. Everyone should be required to take Economics 101. Government spending NEVER creates wealth, it only takes from one group and gives to another. Michigan needs to cut government spending, cut regulations that discourage growth and encourage business to grow in Michigan. Unfortunately this is Ann Arbor where no tax & spend policy is ever discouraged. Who was it that said " The problem with Socialism is that eventually you run out of other people's money?"
1bit
Tue, Oct 13, 2009 : 9:56 p.m.
Ms. Reed - there really aren't any "mixed feelings" here. Nearly all physicians oppose this tax because it is as unfair as taxing teachers alone to pay for education budget deficits, or taxing police officers to pay for law enforcement. If you work at a medical practice, you may lose your job. If you want a vaccine, you might not be able to get it from your doctor's office anymore (the office would have to pay a 3% tax on doing you the favor of buying the vaccine for you). Don't expect any new doctors to come or stay in Michigan - why should they when they can go to another state and not pay this absurd tax? Ultimately, we are all in this together. Once government selects a minority to pick on, you can be darn sure that you are next.
Linda Peck
Tue, Oct 13, 2009 : 5:03 p.m.
Wow, this is really outrageous! I voted no. Incentivize? If we have to subsidize anything, we should all be doing it at the same time in the same way. Incentivize? Who came up with this bill and this dreadful word?
voiceofreason
Tue, Oct 13, 2009 : 3:37 p.m.
This proposed tax on doctors is simply absurd. Even in small medical practices, the gross revenue in often in excess of $1M. This is an extra tax of $30,000 for each million. The implementation of this tax would basically say, "The Michigan Legislature would like every doctor in this state to remove one nurse from their staff."