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2008 AMA Medicare physician payment action kit

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Listen to our new radio ad urging senators to support H.R. 6331 (mp3)
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Legislative Update: On June 26, the Senate failed to proceed to and adopt H.R. 6331 - the “Medicare Improvements to Patients and Providers Act” by a vote of 58 to 40. 60 votes were needed to pass the bill. In a procedural move, the Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) changed his vote to "No" so that he could call the bill up at a future date. Therefore the measure fell one vote short of being adopted.

See how your Senators voted here.

Your help is still needed. Congress is currently on recess, but they need to act once they return to Washington.

Please contact your Senators using the AMA's hotline at (800) 833-6354.

Tell them to stop the Medicare payment cuts. Tell them to keep their promise to protect America's patients and physicians.

See how the Medicare pay cuts will impact your state by using the selection box below:

Current legislation

Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 – H.R. 6331 bill text (PDF, 536KB)

Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act - S. 3101 bill text (PDF, 42KB)

The Save Medicare Act of 2008 - S. 2785 bill text (PDF, 32KB)

The Save Medicare Act of 2008 - H.R. 6091 bill text (PDF, 61KB)

Summary of legislation

S. 2785, the “Save Medicare Act of 2008” (PDF, 73KB)

H.R. 6091, the “Save Medicare Act of 2008” (PDF, 61KB)

Take action

Please contact your U.S. senators and representative today! Send an e-mail. To contact your representatives by phone, please use the AMA's toll-free Grassroots Hotline at 1-800-833-6354.

Talking points (PDF, 29KB)

Medicare physician payment background material

Myth vs. Fact: Medicare Advantage in H.R. 6331 (PDF, 17KB)

Clarification of CMS "hold" on July claims (PDF, 18KB)

Medicare physician payment cuts action alert (PDF, 72KB)

Chart: practice costs vs Medicare payments (PDF, 104KB)

Map: Medicare payment cuts July 2008-December 2009 (PDF, 137KB)

Strategies to improve Medicare (PDF, 70KB)

Medicare participation options for physicians (PDF, 56KB)

AMA survey finds Medicare cuts will hurt seniors (PDF, 72KB)

Medicare physician payments: the facts (PDF, 46KB)

Medicare Advantage: the facts (PDF, 48KB)