Silver lining: CMS increases pay for office visit codes. Many physician practices expressed angst at such low reimbursement rates, with some indicating that they would opt out of Medicare and contract privately with patients if the cuts take effect. "Physicians have been getting more disgruntled over the past several years with the threat of cuts, and if their reimbursements are cut by such an egregious amount, this will finally send them over the edge," says Charlene Burgett, MS, CMA (AAMA), CPM, CPC, CMSCS, administrator with North Scottsdale Family Medicine. "It is becoming more and more difficult dealing with all health plans, especially Medicare," Burgett says. "It is not going to be worth accepting Medicare due to the fact that there is more red tape and government bureaucracy with nothing to show for it if there is a reduction in reimbursement."