Protect health access for kids, seniors

The AMA is urging quick passage of legislation that would renew SCHIP and prevent Medicare physician payment cuts.

Editorial. Sept. 10, 2007.

Congressional lawmakers, fresh from their August recess, have a unique opportunity this month to ensure health care access for two of the nation's most vulnerable groups -- children and seniors. Congress must not fail.

Just before adjourning last month, the House passed the CHAMP Act, which would reauthorize the State Children's Health Insurance Program and prevent two years of Medicare physician payment cuts. The Senate then passed an SCHIP reauthorization measure without any Medicare physician payment relief.

Lawmakers now must iron out the differences between the two bills. It is essential that the final bill not only renew SCHIP but also reverse physician reimbursement cuts of 10% in 2008 and 5% in 2009. The American Medical Association is fighting intensely for both. With SCHIP set to expire Sept. 30, Congress must act quickly.

In terms of patient access, the stakes can't be overestimated. In an AMA poll of nearly 9,000 physicians, 60% said next year's 10% cut would force them to limit the number of new Medicare patients they treat or stop seeing beneficiaries altogether. Doctors simply cannot absorb a financial hit of that magnitude.

The House bill would preserve seniors' and disabled patients' access to doctors by replacing the next two years of physician pay cuts with 0.5% increases each year. The measure is not without problems, however. The AMA is working to remove Medicare provisions dealing with physician-owned hospitals and imaging services.