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Congressional Update:
Advocacy Update from ACC (June 22, 2010)
Within the past several weeks, the House and the Senate approved separate legislation preventing a 21.2 percent Medicare physician payment cut from taking effect on June 1. However, each Chamber has been unable or unwilling to consider the other’s legislation to stop the Medicare payment cuts. As a result of Congress’s rancor, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) began processing payments with the 21.2 percent cut on June 18.
Enough is enough, Congress!
Physicians across the country are tired of Congress’s short term budgetary solutions to this ongoing physician payment crisis. This year alone, Congress has approved and allowed to expire three short-term freezes in Medicare payment without addressing the growing problem. If allowed to continue, the cuts that went in to effect last Friday will impact your patients the most – leading to less access, higher fees, longer waits and impersonal care.
All ACC members are encouraged to call their lawmakers today and yet again urge them to enact a permanent replacement of the flawed Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) formula. Tell them that you are fed up with their irresponsible short-term solutions and want a real, permanent solution to the SGR crisis. Call your members of Congress at (800) 210-7193!
We know that you are tired of contacting Congress on this issue, however please know that you are not alone and your calls are needed now more than ever. The entire House of Medicine is united in its fight for a permanent repeal of this flawed payment formula.
Thank you for taking the time to speak on behalf of your patients and your profession.
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