The MMS has called on members of the Massachusetts congressional
delegation to urge members of the congressional "Super Committee"
to
repeal the physician Medicare payment formula in its
deficit-reduction proposal. The committee is charged with finding
$1.2 trillion in reductions or revenues by December 2011.
Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts is a member of that committee.
In a separate letter to Sen. Kerry, MMS President Lynda M.
Young, MD, stated, "We believe the deficit reduction package
provides the only viable opportunity to permanently solve this
formidable and daunting problem."
The MMS was joined by the presidents of the district medical
societies, who wrote to their members of the congressional
delegation and provided county-specific data about patients' access
to care in their counties.
Also this week, the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
supported repealing the SGR, and partially funding the repeal
with reimbursement cuts to specialists and a payment freeze
for primary care physicians.
The AMA strongly denounced the proposal.
