Medicare Cuts

Congress failed to stop the 10.6% Medicare cut.

Dear Friends and Colleagues:
Unfortunately, by a vote of 58 to 40 the Senate failed to follow the example of the House and adopt H.R. 6331 - the “Medicare Improvements to Patients and Providers Act”
60 votes were needed to pass the bill. In a procedural move, the Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) changed his vote to "No" so that he could call the bill up at a future date. Therefore the measure fell one vote short of being adopted.
Lobbyist and representatives of our American Medical Association worked VERY hard to fight the looming Medicare cuts, but our elected officials voted against our interests.

Our AMA issued the following press release:

“The physicians of America are outraged that a group of Republican senators followed the direction of the Bush Administration and voted to protect health insurance companies at the expense of America’s seniors, disabled and military families."

Comment:

U.S. Senator Mel Martinez voted AGAINST the bill, U.S. Senator Bill Nelson voted FOR the bill,.



“These senators leave for their 4th of July picnics knowing that the most vulnerable Americans are at risk because of the Senate's inability to act to stop drastic payment cuts for health care services that are needed by our Medicare and TRICARE patients


“The House voted to preserve access to care for Medicare patients in a bipartisan landslide vote to pass H.R. 6331 by an overwhelming margin of 355 to 59. The House made seniors, the disabled and military families a top priority. The AMA appreciates the courage of the 59 Senators, including nine Republicans, who voted to put patients ahead of partisan politics and vote for H.R. 6331.



“Today, thanks to some senators, we stand at the brink of a Medicare meltdown. On July 1 – just four days from now – the government will slash Medicare physician payments by 10.6 percent, forcing many physicians to make the difficult choice to limit the number of Medicare patients in their practices.


"The Senate must return from their recess and make seniors’ health care their top priority. For doctors, this is not a partisan issue - it's a patient access issue."


What can we do now?

* Call upon our Senators to return from their recess and make seniors’ health care their top priority. For doctors, this is not a partisan issue - it's a patient access issue.
* Call Senator Bill Nelson to congratulate him for his courageous support of this bill Phone# 202 224-5274 or 305 536-5999.
* Call Senator Mel Martinez and advise him that his position has been duly noted and that we will inform our patients accordingly Phone#202 224-3041 or 305 444-8332
* Limit non-urgent Medicare appointments until congress acts and reverses the cut and inform our patients why we are forced to take those steps.
* Hand out information to our patients asking them to call their representatives to protest the looming drastic Medicare cuts
* Join your county, state and national medical association to support our efforts protecting your interests.

NOW is the time to act as a group! Our patients access to health care services is at stake and we have to stop private insurance companies from pocketing Medicare dollars.


Yours
Bernd Wollschlaeger,MD,FAAFP,FASAM
President, Dade County Medical Association