Doctors who treat Medicare patients got bad news from Uncle Sam Monday -- they're facing at a 21 percent pay cut in reimbursements.

"That's going to threaten access for millions of medicare patients," Dr. James Rohack, president of the American Medical Association, said.

In Michigan, nearly 1.4 million people rely on the federally funded health program.

"That's $610 million less Michigan will be able to have to take care of patients on Medicare," Dr. James Richard said.

Doctor Richard, of the Michigan State Medical Society, said doctors simply won't be able to afford to provide the care anymore.

"Many practices will no longer accept or cut back on new Medicare patients," Richard said. "So patients going on Medicare won't be able to find a physician."

So if doctors aren't taking Medicare patients, then free clinics will be even more crowded than they already are.

"We are turning away 20 to 30 people a day calling asking to be patients," Dr. Barry Saltman said.

Doctor Saltman runs Care Free Medical and Dental Clinic in Lansing. He said 12 percent of his patients are Medicare patients, he expects those numbers to grow.

"Since I started Care Free, people have come in and said I can't find a doctor who will accept Medicare," Saltman said.

If these cuts hold -- and Congress does not act -- the American Medical Association warned of a meltdown for seniors.

"Congress needs to find a way to fix this," Richard said.