title: Merging Medicare Parts A and B: potential effects on beneficiaries, surgeons, and other stakeholders.
abstract: Describes the reasons Medicare Parts A and B are currently paid under different mechanisms Explains why the time is ripe to merge Parts A and B Examines the potential effects on delivery of patient care, the federal government, and providers
authors.affiliation: Center for Surgery and Public Health, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Lily
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gutnik
authors.affiliation: ACS Division of Advocacy and Health Policy, Washington, DC, USA.
authors.forename: Heather
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: James F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Goldszer
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Houston Methodist Hospital, TX, USA.
authors.forename: H Randolph
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Bailey
authors.affiliation: Boston Children's Hospital, USA.
authors.forename: John G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Meara
mesh_terms: D017598:Efficiency, Organizational; D013502:General Surgery / Q000191:economics*; D007349:Insurance, Health, Reimbursement / Q000191:economics*; D016344:Medicare Part A / Q000458:organization & administration*; D016345:Medicare Part B / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011050:Policy Making; D014481:United States