Doctors squeezed by Medicare's cuts: Some physicians peddle extras to prop up the bottom line.

Byline: Suzanne Hoholik

Sep. 7--Half of the people Dr. Charles Hickey sees at his Columbus ophthalmology practice are Medicare patients. He makes little money on them, he says, because Medicare pays at or below his costs. Hickey, however, makes a profit when he performs surgery and sells eyeglasses. He plans on increasing this side of his practice. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services have proposed cutting payments to doctors next year by 5.1 percent. Hickey and other physicians have done the math. Right now, many have quit adding Medicare patients or are cutting them. More are planning to do the same. And many are turning to moneymaking procedures, such as cosmetic …

Doctors squeezed by Medicare's cuts: Some physicians peddle extras to prop up the bottom line.

Byline: Suzanne Hoholik

Sep. 7--Half of the people Dr. Charles Hickey sees at his Columbus ophthalmology practice are Medicare patients. He makes little money on them, he says, because Medicare pays at or below his costs. Hickey, however, makes a profit when he performs surgery and sells eyeglasses. He plans on increasing this side of his practice. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services have proposed cutting payments to doctors next year by 5.1 percent. Hickey and other physicians have done the math. Right now, many have quit adding Medicare patients or are cutting them. More are planning to do the same. And many are turning to moneymaking procedures, such as cosmetic …