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AMA steps up education efforts to patients, Congress to show impact of Medicare pay cut

An Association survey of health care consumers showed that most were unaware of the upcoming reduction but are worried by the prospect.

By David Glendinning, amednews staff. Sept. 25, 2006.

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Washington -- The American Medical Association earlier this month turned up the volume on the upcoming Medicare pay cut to doctors, organizing a major physician fly-in to Washington, D.C., and launching an advertising campaign aimed at educating lawmakers and uninformed constituents about the dangers of inaction.

Hundreds of physicians from all over the country, representing multiple specialties, planned to descend on the nation's capital in the second half of September to protest the projected 5.1% reduction set to go into effect in January. Through Capitol Hill visits and media events, the participants hope to inform patients and persuade lawmakers to reverse the cut before Congress adjourns in early October to prepare for mid-term elections.

A recent AMA survey indicated that the issue had not caught the attention of a majority of health care consumers who otherwise might be expected to put pressure on lawmakers themselves. But once consumers were made aware of the looming cuts, they expressed concern over what that could mean for access to physician care.

In the survey of more than 1,000 adults conducted in July, roughly 70% of the respondents said they did not know that a round of annual Medicare cuts to doctors was set to begin in January 2007. When informed about the details of the reductions, 86% said they thought access for Medicare patients could be hurt as a result.

Baby boomers, who will start to retire in five years, are especially worried. About 93% of survey participants age 45 to 54, for example, said they were concerned about the negative impact of the changes on access to Medicare physician services.