Last week I was one of several hundred physicians meeting with our members of Congress in the nation’s capital, even as thousands of our colleagues called and emailed them from our home states. Our mission was to spur Congress to act on a bipartisan bill to repeal Medicare’s flawed sustainable growth rate (SGR) payment formula.
The enthusiasm, sense of unity and intensity of interest in finally reforming Medicare’s payment system among those of us in Washington, D.C., was palpable. The total commitment at the AMA National Advocacy Conference was unlike any conference I had ever attended. Every one of us—whether in the capital or at home—knew we had an important message to deliver. Together, we did just that.
We garnered significant support for legislation that would lay the foundation for a higher performing Medicare system by taking steps toward allowing us to design innovative systems of care that best serve our patients. In just two days, we secured 51 new co-sponsors for the bill, bringing the total number of co-sponsors for the House bill to 104. Thank you for your hard work!
We achieved this impressive outcome as a result of the unity of our efforts. Now Congress needs to follow our lead.
Our lawmakers need to build on the common ground they found across the aisle and legislative chambers: Congress agrees that the SGR formula must be repealed, and the three congressional committees of jurisdiction reached an unprecedented agreement in joint bipartisan legislation that would make repeal a reality.
But now we’re up against a March 31 deadline. In a matter of weeks, the SGR formula will trigger a 24 percent payment cut unless all of our lawmakers work together to take swift action.
Defaulting to the temporary payment patches that the legislature has relied upon for the last decade should not be an option. Congress needs to seize the opportunity to eliminate the SGR formula and reform the Medicare payment system.
Join me in telling your members of Congress that dodging the problem with another temporary patch is irresponsible. Only through permanent SGR repeal will Congress demonstrate that they are serious about addressing the needs of all physician practices and promoting high-quality, high-value care for patients.
The time for real reform is now.
Make the call at (800) 833-6354, or email Congress. Tell your lawmakers: No more patches, no more excuses—repeal the SGR formula today!
