Senior, Physician, Military Groups Urge Fix to
Medicare’s Annual Crisis in Physician Pay
Almost yearly physician’s face mandated cut in pay
that is then reversed by Congress
Jan. 25, 2010 - Focusing on looming Medicare
physician cuts of 21 percent scheduled to begin on March 1, the American
Medical Association (AMA), AARP and the Military Officers Association of
America (MOAA) have joined together in an “unprecedented” multi-state
event to urge a lasting fix to this annual crisis.
With advocates in Washington, D.C., Madison, WI,
Norfolk, VA, Bismarck, ND and Portland, ME, the three groups urged the
Senate to permanently fix the Medicare physician payment problem before
seniors, military families and baby boomers face a limited choice of
physicians and limited access to care.
Doctors face 21% pay cut from Medicare in 2010; same
annual quandary Democrats tried to fix; senior citizens many find it
harder to get a doctor; AMA issues new list of states with problems
By
Tucker Sutherland, editor & publisher
SeniorJournal.com
“Time is running out,” said AMA Immediate
Past-President Nancy H. Nielsen, M.D., from Thursday’s news conference
in Washington, D.C. “The Senate must take immediate action to protect
choice of physicians and access to care for Medicare and TRICARE
patients. Congress must permanently repeal the formula that causes the
cuts.”
“Nearly 90 percent of people age 50 and over tell
AARP they are concerned that the current Medicare physician payment
formula threatens their access to care,” said AARP’s Executive Vice
President Nancy LeaMond, from an event in Washington, D.C.
Rodger Wetzel, a member of AARP North Dakota’s
executive committee, added from an event in Bismarck, ND that “millions
of seniors in Medicare, along with the first wave of baby boomers who
are just a year away from reaching Medicare age, need Congress to fix
the physician payment formula once and for all so they can be assured of
continued access to care and choice of physician.”
“Access to health care is already the single
biggest problem for military beneficiaries of all ages, and these cuts
will make the problem worse,” said Captain Kathy Beasley, USN-Ret., MOAA
Deputy Director of Government Relations for Health Affairs, from an
event in Norfolk, VA.
“The last thing troops in combat should have to
worry about is whether their sick spouse or child can find a doctor to
treat them.”
The AMA and AARP sent a letter to Congress Thursday
and are currently airing TV ads that call for the Senate to take similar
action to the House and pass legislation that repeals the current
Medicare physician payment formula and replaces it with one that better
reflects increasing medical practice costs.
The ad features seniors and military and says,
“Physicians who care for Medicare and TRICARE patients face a 21 percent
cut, and seniors and military families will pay the price with fewer
doctors and less access to the care they’ve earned.”
“We are already seeing patient access hot spots
now,” said AMA Board Member Ardis Hoven, M.D., from an event in Madison,
WI.
“About one in four Medicare patients looking for a
new primary care physician are having trouble finding one. Through
permanent Medicare payment reform physicians can be assured of stable
payment rates from Medicare and TRICARE and can plan to care for these
patients in their medical practices.”
A news release for the action program said,
“Previous short-term patches have increased the size of the cut and the
cost of reform, making it imperative that Congress stop this vicious
cycle with permanent reform now. Concerned patients can contact their
senators through the AMA’s Patients Action Network at 1-888-434-6200 or
online at
www.patientsactionnetwork.org.”
“As advocates for older Americans, military
families and physicians, we are jointly calling on patients and
physicians to contact their senators and let them know it’s important
they repeal the broken payment formula to preserve access to care,” said
AMA President-elect Cecil Wilson, M.D., from an event in Portland, ME.
AARP says it is a nonprofit, nonpartisan membership
organization that helps people 50+ have independence, choice and control
in ways that are beneficial and affordable to them and society as a
whole. AARP does not endorse candidates for public office or make
contributions to either political campaigns or candidates. AARP
Foundation is an affiliated charity that provides security, protection,
and empowerment to older persons in need with support from thousands of
volunteers, donors, and sponsors. We have staffed offices in all 50
states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin
Islands. More at
www.AARP.org.
About the American Medical Association
The American Medical Association says it helps
doctors help patients by uniting physicians nationwide to work on the
most important professional and public health issues. Working together,
the AMA's quarter of a million physician and medical student members are
playing an active role in shaping the future of medicine. For more
information on the AMA, visit
www.ama-assn.org.
About the Military Officers Association of
America
MOAA is the nation’s largest association of active
duty, National Guard, Reserve, retired, and former military officers and
their families and survivors, and the fourth-largest veterans’
association, with more than 370,000 members. The association promotes a
strong national defense by advocating equitable treatment of those who
serve and have served their country in uniform.
Keep up with the latest news for senior citizens, baby
boomers
Jan. 25, 2010 - Focusing on looming Medicare
physician cuts of 21 percent scheduled to begin on March 1, the American
Medical Association (AMA), AARP and the Military Officers Association of
America (MOAA) have joined together in an “unprecedented” multi-state
event to urge a lasting fix to this annual crisis. 
Also issues other policy updates adjusting pay for
hospital outpatient care, home health care
