Effective January 1, 2026, Dr. Wheeler is updating how he provides care for Medicare patients. This change allows him and his team to maintain high-quality care while giving patients flexible options for how they prefer to be seen and treated.
Office Visits & Non-Surgical Care
Dr. Wheeler’s Physician Assistant (PA) remains fully in-network with Medicare.
This means:
- Medicare patients can continue to schedule office visits, consultations, follow-up appointments, pre-operative evaluations, and post-operative care through our PA with full Medicare coverage, just as before.
- All medically necessary visits with the PA will be billed through Medicare.
Dr. Wheeler will no longer be billing Medicare directly for his services, but our care structure ensures patients still receive seamless access to the practice.
Surgical Care Provided by Dr. Wheeler
If a Medicare patient elects to have surgery performed by Dr. Wheeler:
- The surgical fee will be cash-pay and handled directly with his office.
- All related visits that occur with the PA (pre-op workup, follow-up visits, wound checks, etc.) remain covered by Medicare.
This allows patients to choose the surgeon they trust while still utilizing their Medicare benefits for all PA-managed care.
For Dr. Wheeler’s Existing Medicare Patients
Patients who have previously had surgery with Dr. Wheeler will continue to be followed by him for any future surgical needs. This includes:
- Ongoing evaluation of past surgical conditions
- New issues that may require Dr. Wheeler’s surgical expertise
- Continued care coordination between Dr. Wheeler and the PA
Your continuity of care will not be interrupted.
Your Options Moving Forward
Medicare patients now have two parallel paths for care:
- Use Medicare benefits for all visits with our in-network PA
- Choose Dr. Wheeler on a cash-pay basis for any surgical procedure
Our goal is to provide flexibility while maintaining the highest level of care. If you have questions about how this change affects you, we’re here to help walk you through your options. Email us at wheelermedicare@txorthopaedic.com.
Sincerely,
Michael Wheeler, M.D.
