Mystery Shopper Plan Abandoned

June 29, 2011

Outpouring of opposition forced Obama administration to back down

The Mystery Shopper survey was widely criticized by physicians and politicians and the abandonment of the program is an abrupt turnaround by the administration. HHS spokesman Christian J. Stenrud said, "Politics did not pay a role in the decision." This change came about after Senator Mark Kirk (R-IL) requested in his letter to HHS Secretary Sebelius for details about the survey and the cost to taxpayers and doctors. It called for HHS to use studies already completed instead of a new survey. Dr. Cecil Wilson, immediate past AMA president said "We know there is a physician shortage in this country that will only grow worse as more people enter Medicare and coverage is expanded to those not currently uninsured…The government should be working to address this shortage…"

Also reported in the June 29, 2011 NAHU Newswire is a proposal introduced by Senators Lieberman and Coburn that the Medicare age eligibility be raised to sixty-seven and an increase in the premiums. The plan would be unpopular but is a plan for long-term solution.

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