Utilization of Physician Services
The GAO has issued a report entitled "Medicare Physician Services: Utilization Trends Indicate Sustained Beneficiary Access with High and Growing Levels of Service in Some Areas of the Nation." According to the GAO, Medicare beneficiaries experienced few problems accessing physician services in 2007 and 2008. The proportion of beneficiaries who received physician services and the number of services per beneficiary increased from April 2000 to April 2008. The GAO identified potentially over-served geographic areas of the country, in which certain physician services, such as advanced imaging and minor procedures, are performed more frequently despite similar beneficiary demographic characteristics.
