|
Important Information from Valerie Doane
MSMSA Legislation Chair
From the AMA Alliance Legislative Chair, Sherry Clarke
Congress Must Repeal the SGR
The U.S. congressional "super committee" is pushing to meet a tight deadline to find at least $1.2 trillion in
deficit cuts over the next 10 years. The panel of six Democrats and six Republicans has until November 23 to achieve
their goal. Congress then has until December 23 to vote on the panel's recommendations. If either deadline goes
unmet, automatic budget cuts of 2% across the board would be triggered, beginning in 2013.
The SGR has been in existence since 1997 as a result of the Balanced Budget Act (BBA). The flawed formula has
a scheduled cut to Medicare/Tricare providers of 29.5% to take place January 1, 2012. In the past, the cuts
have had temporary "patches" and the issue of the SGR and scheduled cuts have been kicked down the road. This
year with the nation's budget issues, the deficit reduction process presents the best opportunity to achieve
permanent repeal of the SGR. Physicians may feel fatigue on the SGR issue, having had to appeal to Washington
year and year for reform. However; this year is different, the stakes are higher than before and this
time, doctors may come out on the short end of the stick. There is with a real threat of a temporary patch
not occurring. The issue of the SGR needs to be part of the proposals of the Super Committee. Keep in mind the
recommendations of the Super Committee cannot be amended or be filibustered.
Here are the 3 scenarios that could occur in the next 2 months regarding payment to physicians and the SGR as per
my understanding from a presentation given by Dr. Peter W. Carmel at the AMAA Leadership Development Conference,
October 1st, 2011:
1.) The Super Committee recommends elimination of the SGR on November 23 and Congress passes the recommendations
by December 23---no cuts to reimbursement occur on January 1, 2012. SGR is eliminated.
2.) The Super Committee proposal does NOT eliminate the SGR. Congress passes the proposal. Assuming Congress
passes the legislation on December 23, this allows only 8 days for Congress to put in place another temporary patch
for the 30% cuts.
3.) No recommendations are made by the Super Committee, they fail to come up with a bill by November 23rd. A 2% cut
across the board to several Federal programs including Medicare for hospital and physician payments goes into effect
in 2013. The 30% cut in physician reimbursement remains in effect for January 1st, 2012. Again needing a patch in
the few days left before the year ends.
Members of the AMA Alliance are asking for your help in getting the message to Congress that the SGR must be
repealed. Take this message to your county meetings, your hospital groups, practice managers and to your patients.
Urge your collegues, spouses, family, patients and friends to contact Congress today.
Physicians can use the AMA grassroots hotline: 800-833-6354 or send an email using the Physician's Grassroots
website: www.ama-assn.org/grassroots
Patients, spouses, family members, practice managers, etc. (and physicians also) can use the Patient Action Network
by calling: 888-434-6200 or email using the prepared letter on this website: www.patientsactionnetwork.org.
Some suggestions as a result of the Alliance roundtable session to get the word out include: Take a laptop (or 2) to
your next County and State Medical Society meeting...have the websites pulled up, ready to use and make physicians
and those present to send the email while attending the meeting. (Hint: logout each person after the email
is submitted.) Wear a button or have flyers/posters in your office that says: Protect patient's access to Care,
Repeal the SGR. When a patient asks about the statement, have information ready to give them explaining how care
will be threatened if the SGR is not replaced and give them the Patient Action Network contact information. Challenge
your collegues to make the calls, forward the above information to peers. There are toolkits available on the AMA
website, save yourselves the effort and use what's already been created for you.
Here's the link: http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/advocacy/current-topics-advocacy/
medicare-physician-payment-reform-regulatory-relief.page
Now is the time for physicians and members of the family of medicine to mobilize--time is of the essence and this
is critical. If physicians face another cut to Medicare reimbursement on the shoestring budgets most are
working with...a healthcare access crisis will occur. Physicians will not be able to stay in Medicare and patient
access to care will be affected.
Thank you,
Sherry Clarke, RN, BSN
If you have any questions about the Legislative Initiatives please contact
|
