We have no control over spending for private physician services.

Under current law, there is no limit on the amount that patients may have to pay for either physician services or hospital care.

Payment for physician services under Medicare has evolved since the program was created in 1965.

House bill: $1,043 for covered physician services in 1989.

Senate bill: $1,700 for hospital care or physician services in 1988.

The Medicare payment for each physician service was frozen this year.

Medicare spending for physician services has increased by an average of 18 percent a year since the mid-1970's, he said.

Medicare is spending $30 billion this year for physician services, up 22 percent from two years ago.

Only 9 cents is used to pay for physician services.

These plans may provide benefits for hospitalization, surgical, and physician services.