AAPS consistently sends a better message: Never mind the “sustained growth rate” (SGR). Do away with the price controls—the ban on balance billing. Allow patients and doctors to contract privately, without government interference.
We know that Medicare is insolvent. It will be cutting payouts because it has no money. But it does not have the constitutional authority to deny seniors access to care.
Medicare has the power to determine reimbursement any way it likes. Currently it uses the values set by the 29 members of the powerful, secretive RUC (Relative Value Scale Update Committee), which is convened by the AMA. These Solomons determine how to divvy up the $60 billion that Medicare spends on physicians’ fees. Then the government sets the “conversion factor” in an effort to determine total outlay.
But the federal government should not be dictating fees. Only patients and doctors can determine a fair fee that will allow the doctor to keep his office open so his patients can continue to receive care.
We agree with the AMA on one thing: physicians should be re-evaluating their Medicare status. Finally, the AMA is making its members aware of the possibility of opting out. (AAPS is the number one site for information on how to do this.)
We suggest you call your Senators and Congressman (the Capitol switchboard is 202-224-3121) or find your Congressman’s and Senators’ contact information at http://www.contactingthecongress.org/.
Tell them that Congress should:
- Free patients from the price controls that are destroying their access to care. Doctors should set fees; Medicare should only set reimbursement.
- Never mind the SGR. Eliminate the ban on balance billing and the penalties for charging a fee different from the one calculated by CMS.
- Allow unrestricted private contracting outside of Medicare.
- Be aware that if Congress does not act, you will (opt out of Medicare; stop seeing Medicare patients, cut certain services, retire, etc.).
Note that this Wednesday will also be the first time that new CMS head Donald Berwick, M.D., will appear before Congress. He will testify before the Senate Finance Committee, which will hold a hearing on the effects of the Affordable Care Act (ACA or ObamaCare) on seniors and consumers.
