A bill has been introduced that would stop the 15 percent Medicare payment cuts scheduled to take effect over the next two years, and instead provide physicians with small payment increases. The bill (Senate Bill 2785) would extend the .5 percent update physicians received in January for an additional six months through December 31, and provide a 1.8 percent update in 2009.
Please call California Senators Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein and urge them to cosponsor the “Save Medicare Act of 2008.” Although it is not a long-term fix to the Medicare payment problems, it critically important to protect access to health care for seniors.
This temporary fix would inject some stability into the system for seniors and physicians, who would otherwise be forced to make difficult practice decisions as a result of the pending payment cuts. This bill would also give Congress time to work on a long-term solution to the broken payment system without having to take multiple actions over the next 18 months to stop the pending cuts.
Please also thank Senators Feinstein and Boxer for their continued support of physicians.
