Determination of ratios of physicians to medicare beneficiaries in area
Based upon available data, the Secretary shall establish for each county or equivalent area in the United States, the following:
(A) Number of physicians practicing in the area
(A)Number of physicians practicing in the area#
The number of physicians who furnish physicians’ services in the active practice of medicine or osteopathy in that county or area, other than physicians whose practice is exclusively for the Federal Government, physicians who are retired, or physicians who only provide administrative services. Of such number, the number of such physicians who are—
(i) primary care physicians; or
(ii) physicians who are not primary care physicians.
(A)(i)#
primary care physicians; or
(A)(ii)#
physicians who are not primary care physicians.
(B)Number of medicare beneficiaries residing in the area#
The number of individuals who are residing in the county and are entitled to benefits under part A or enrolled under this part, or both (in this subsection referred to as “individuals”).
(C)Determination of ratios#
(i) Primary care ratio The ratio (in this paragraph referred to as the “primary care ratio”) of the number of primary care physicians (determined under subparagraph (A)(i)), to the number of individuals determined under subparagraph (B).
(ii) Specialist care ratio The ratio (in this paragraph referred to as the “specialist care ratio”) of the number of other physicians (determined under subparagraph (A)(ii)), to the number of individuals determined under subparagraph (B).
(C)(i)Primary care ratio#
The ratio (in this paragraph referred to as the “primary care ratio”) of the number of primary care physicians (determined under subparagraph (A)(i)), to the number of individuals determined under subparagraph (B).
(C)(ii)Specialist care ratio#
The ratio (in this paragraph referred to as the “specialist care ratio”) of the number of other physicians (determined under subparagraph (A)(ii)), to the number of individuals determined under subparagraph (B).