Statement Attributable to:
Patrice A. Harris MD., MA
President, American Medical Association
“While the AMA supports the goal of protecting patients from payment disputes, further modifications are needed to protect patient access to care in rural areas and other underserved populations. Reps. Raul Ruiz, M.D., (D-Calif.) and Larry Bucshon, M.D.,(R-Ind.) led a bipartisan call to address concerns about the current imbalanced rate-setting scheme and are pressing for changes to make it more fair before the full committee markup next week. Other subcommittee members expressing concerns about the potential harm to access for rural and underserved populations included Reps. Gus Bilirakis (R-Fla.), Doris Matsui (D-Calif.), John Shimkus (R-Ill.), G.K. Butterfield (D-N.C.), Richard Hudson, (R-N.C.) and Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.).
“Members of Congress made it clear they are hearing from the physicians back home and continued grassroots engagement is essential before the upcoming full committee markup. We remain committed to working with all the committees of jurisdiction to forge a more balanced approach to best protect patients and their access to health care.”
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About the American Medical Association
The American Medical Association is the physicians’ powerful ally in patient care. As the only medical association that convenes 190+ state and specialty medical societies and other critical stakeholders, the AMA represents physicians with a unified voice to all key players in health care. The AMA leverages its strength by removing the obstacles that interfere with patient care, leading the charge to prevent chronic disease and confront public health crises and, driving the future of medicine to tackle the biggest challenges in health care.
