Originally Posted by aceventura3

Currently in Medicare there are medical practitioners that opt into Medicare and there are some that opt out. There are some that accept the Medicare "usual and customer" payment and some who don't. Medicare has standard protocols for common treatments that they reimburse or pay based on that national standard. If an individual's treatment involves a doctor who has opted out, or bills more the "usual and customary", or goes outside of the standard treatment protocol for common conditions, the cost has to be paid by the individual. This forms one of the basis' for the "death panel" concern.