Focusing on looming Medicare physician cuts of 21 percent that begin on March 1, the American Medical Association (AMA), AARP and the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) joined together this week in an unprecedented multi-state event. The three groups urged the Senate to permanently fix the Medicare physician payment problem before seniors, military families and baby boomers face a limited choice of physicians and limited access to care.
“Time is running out,” said AMA Immediate Past-President Nancy H. Nielsen, MD. “The Senate must take immediate action to protect choice of physicians and access to care for Medicare and TRICARE patients. Congress must permanently repeal the formula that causes the cuts.”
“Nearly 90 percent of people age 50 and over tell AARP they are concerned that the current Medicare physician payment formula threatens their access to care,” said AARP’s Executive Vice President Nancy LeaMond.
The AMA and AARP sent a letter to Congress on Thursday and are currently airing ads that call for the Senate to take similar action to the House and pass legislation that repeals the current Medicare physician payment formula and replaces it with one that better reflects increasing medical practice costs.
Read the complete joint news release.
