AAPS has joined with 18 other groups representing millions of members to oppose Senate Bill 1776, the “Medicare Physician Fairness Act,” also known up on the Hill as the “Doc Fix.”
This bill is just a blatant effort by Senate Democrats to shuffle money around so that they can say the main health care reform bills do not increase the deficit.
CLICK HERE TO READ THE JOINT LETTER TO THE SENATE
AAPS Executive Director, Jane Orient, MD writes:
“Now we have the Stabenow bill, S. 1776, a supposed stand-alone ‘fix’ for doctors’ pay. Remember that the word ‘fix’ can be used in several ways—such as ‘I’m going to fix you but good.’
“For once, a short, simple bill. It sunsets the ‘sustained growth rate,’ which requires Medicare to cut physicians’ pay if total expenditures go up too much. This is supposed to ‘protect seniors’ and military families’ access to care.’
“Apparently, the Senate will first freeze the fees, which were supposed to be cut by more than 20%—in D.C., that’s called a ‘raise’—and then will fix everything later in a new payment system in a broader bill. Just trust them.
“One suspects the way will now be clear for the AMA to support ‘reform’ wholeheartedly, now that the sticky matter of their members’ fees has been fixed.”
We keep saying, it’s not about the money anyway. If they really want to give patients freedom, allow unrestriced private contracting for Medicare patients and everyone else.
Watch for news later this week about the AAPS survey on Physician Attitudes on Medicare.
