The AMA criticized the Senate's move to delay the 21% Medicare payment cut until Oct. 1. The AMA, like most Medicare providers, prefers Congress eliminate the budget mechanism responsible for the payment cut.
AMA President J. James Rohack, MD, released this statement on March 10:
"Today, the U.S. Senate voted to again delay this year's steep 21% Medicare physician payment cut to October 1, pushing the problem off into the near future. If the House adopts this Senate bill, America's seniors and their physicians will be left in limbo, and access to health care for Medicare patients will continue to be in grave danger. Physicians cannot keep their practice doors open to all Medicare patients without clear direction from Congress on Medicare payment rates. Already, Medicare payment rates are far below the costs of providing patient care, and physicians are left wondering how they can continue to run a medical practice if Congress does not inject security and stability into the Medicare program.
"Short-term actions are the wrong answer to a long-term problem. These band-aid fixes have only served to increase the size of the cuts and the cost of reform. The longer Congress delays, the higher the cost to the American taxpayer. It's time to fix the formula and ensure that seniors can count on Medicare now and for years to come."