[Rich66]

Reviewing the info in this thread, this latest Mayo announcement seems fairly predictable. And that's in a mixed reimbursement system that shifts costs to private insurers. Primary care today, cardio and oncology tomorrow? I hope I'm wrong. But I've already been directly involved with a treatment center that had to look at their Medicare/private ratio before they could reserve an appointment for my mom. That was in Nov '08. A month ago, a cardiologist point blank told me my father's need for a defibrillator (vs pacemaker) had to be measured against "rationing" guidelines of Medicare. I didn't use the word, he did. The issue isn't feeling very abstract or academic to me.