Upcoming Vote on Medicare Doctor Payments!
The Medicare cuts for doctors that could take effect in less than two months are a major problem for patients. They would prevent many doctors from accepting new Medicare patients, discourage some from investing in new health technology and make many think about closing their medical practices altogether!
The House approved a rule for considering H.R. 3961, the "Medicare Physician Payment Reform Act of 2009," and after a recess for the Veterans Day holiday, H.R. 3961 is now up for a floor vote during the week of November 16.
If enacted, this legislation would repeal the sustainable growth rate (SGR) physician payment formula and replace it with a new payment update system. It would put an end to yearly, short-term Band-Aid fixes for Medicare payments!
Urge your representative to vote yes to H.R. 3961 and put a stop to the 21 percent Medicare physician payment cut on Jan. 1, 2010. Tell your representative to provide a permanent solution to this problem.
Dear Representative [Name],
Our country is facing an imminent health care crisis that you can help prevent. The Medicare cuts for doctors that will take effect in less than two months are a major problem for patients - your constituents - because they will prevent many doctors from accepting new Medicare patients, discourage some from investing in new health technology, and make many think about closing their medical practices altogether!
But H.R. 3961 would stop these cuts and create a new formula to prevent them from happening again. Seniors and the disabled who rely on Medicare and military families who rely on TRICARE expect access to health care and choice of physicians. Without repeal of the underlying formula that projects steep payment cuts to physicians, that access and choice of physicians are repeatedly put at risk.
An overwhelming majority of Congress - Democrats and Republicans alike - are on record stating that the Medicare physician payment formula is flawed and should be repealed. Please live up to that commitment and preserve access to high-quality health care for America's seniors and military families.
[Your comments here]
Please, be a champion for patients and for our doctors. Support H.R. 3961.
