Correction: Medicare Cut Temporarily Averted, Hope for Permament Fix?
March 3, 2010
Late last night, after a 78-19 positive vote in the Senate, President Obama signed the Temporary Extension Act of 2010 into law, which includes an additional one month freeze on Medicare pay cuts. The House of Representatives had unanimously approved a companion bill by voice vote on Feb. 25.
In my practice I find myself in frequent discussions concerning 'whats going on in medicine today' and a regular comment I hear and appreciate is that your time is limited and with the time you do have you may not know how to get involved. If you are interested in having your voice heard, I urge you to contact your local medical society, and if you're free next Tuesday, explore and join your peers for Legislative Day.
Legislative Day: March 9th is Legislative Day in Albany. This is your opportunity to have your voice heard on Health Care and speak face to face with members of Congress. Transportation is provided to and from Albany. Click here to register.
In reaction to the extension, the AMA has released the following statement:
U.S. Senate Delays Medicare Physician Cut for One Month
AMA to Senate: Use Time Wisely to Repeal Broken Payment Formula
Statement Attributable to:
J. James Rohack, MD
President, American Medical Association
For immediate release:
March 3, 2010
Washington, D.C. – "Last night, the U.S. Senate voted yet again to delay the 21 percent Medicare physician payment cut for one month, postponing it until April 1. The Senate should use this time to permanently repeal the flawed Medicare physician payment formula that puts access to care for seniors and military families at risk.
"Physicians are outraged by the Senate’s failure to act before the March 1 deadline, as their patients and practices are hurt by the continued instability in the Medicare system. This vicious cycle of short-term delays that increase the size of the cut and the cost of reform for American taxpayers must come to an end. The U.S. House has already passed legislation that will permanently repeal the broken payment formula and replace it with one that better reflects the increasing cost of patient care. Now the Senate must act.
"AMA physicians are in Washington today meeting directly with their senators to urge them to act now on permanent reform. Access to health care for seniors, disabled and military families hangs in the balance. The Senate must honor its obligation before patients are the victim of a complete Medicare meltdown."
