Clock ticking louder on doc fix--again

Today, Nov. 17, is White Coat Wednesday, and the American Medical Association wants every physician, medical employee and patient to call its toll-free hotline--1.800.833.6354--every day until Nov. 30, to insist that Congress vote for the 13-month patch to the sustainable growth rate formula.

This is just one of the recent steps in the organization's hard lobby to protect physicians from the 23 percent cut scheduled to go into effect Dec. 1. Beginning this week, USA Today and other Washington, D.C.- based newspapers will run AMA ads calling for lawmakers to stop the cut.

But with lack of consensus between Democrats and newly elected Republicans on how to pay for short- or long-term SGR solutions, the most likely outcome will be yet another reprieve of just a few months, the Associated Press reports.

"My frustration level is at a nine or 10 right now," said San Antonio breast cancer surgeon Dr. Kathryn Wagner, who told the AP and her patients that she will stop seeing Medicare patients if the cuts go through. "I am exceptionally exhausted with these annual and biannual threats to cut my reimbursement by drastic amounts. As a business person, I can't budget at all because I have no idea how much money is going to come in. Medicine is a business. Private practice is a business."

Physicians aren't alone in their frustration. A poll conducted by the AMA reveals that 94 percent of Americans are also concerned about the cuts.

The AARP also is standing up for seniors and their physicians. "Americans 65 and over have earned their Medicare and the right to keep seeing the doctors they count on," said board member Mara Mayor. "Congress has a responsibility to keep doctors in the Medicare program. It's time for politicians to come together to stop these cuts so seniors can have the peace of mind they've earned."

To learn more:
- see the press release from the AMA
- read the article from the Associated Press
- check out the story in Healthcare Finance News

Related Articles:
Republican-controlled House likely to change course of health reform
Docs agree payment models need to change, but don't want less
SGR: Deja vu or permanent change?
AMA chides Congress on SGR