They perceive that fewer doctors and hospitals may be willing to see Medicare patients, and that providers will offer less quality care. In the end, participants' concern over access to quality care outweighs the perceived efficiencies that this reform option would add to Medicare. Participants want to look for ways to raise money for Medicare other than raising payroll taxes - such as having Medicare beneficiaries contribute on a sliding scale. Many participants simply feel it is unfair to ask them to pay more in taxes - particularly when they see so much waste in the program. They want a tax increase considered only as a last resort - but do not outright reject this reform option because they say it is their responsibility to keep Medicare afloat financially.
Participants prefer that other reforms are attempted first.
The results from the focus group research and the public meetings and community dialogues is strikingly similar. The public voice, whether measured using research methods or by listening to and recording it in communities, is consistent. People are willing to tackle important and complex issues. They want accurate information available to them. Having that, people then weigh proposals for change against their values and make sound choices.