Wednesday, Nov. 23, 2011
This Week's News
Congress must act to avert 27% Medicare payment cut
AMA toolkit helps physicians examine, update Medicare participation status
Congress acts to eliminate Medicare payment tax withholding
CMS announces 90-day grace period for HIPAA version 5010 enforcement
Column explains how health insurer monopolies harm physicians and patients
Special Feature
Congress must act to avert 27% Medicare payment cut
With the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction failing to reach agreement on a deficit-reduction proposal, physicians still face a 27 percent cut in Medicare physician payments come Jan. 1. So what's next?
Democratic and Republican leaders in Congress have publicly stated their commitment to take action this year to avert the 27 percent cut. Options for relief outside of the supercommittee process have ranged from short-term patches of a year or two to longer-term relief that provides for transition away from the flawed sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula to a new Medicare physician payment system.
The scope of the next SGR intervention will not come into better focus until Congress returns from its Thanksgiving break. Congress has a number of items of unfinished business that require action before departing for the Christmas holidays.
"Congress must act within the next few weeks to replace the Medicare physician payment formula and implement a fiscally responsible foundation for Medicare," AMA President Peter W. Carmel, MD, said in a statement.
What can you do now?
Register your strong concerns with your members of Congress that yet another SGR deadline is approaching and Congress has yet to act. Call the AMA grassroots hotline at (800) 833-6354 or send an urgent email and ask your representatives and senators what specific steps they will take to end the annual SGR fiasco.
If they tell you that they are "with you," remind them about the multiple missed deadlines in 2010. Physicians and their patients need action rather than vague expressions of support
Medicare carriers have distributed information to determine if physicians want to modify their status as participating or nonparticipating physicians. The AMA has developed the "Know your options: Medicare participation guide" to help physicians evaluate their options and choose the direction that is suitable for their practice. Physicians have until Dec. 31 to modify their status. Learn more elsewhere in AMA Wire.
Read more from the AMA about the supercommittee's failure. And watch for updates via the Physicians' Grassroots Network and other AMA communications.
