The AMA is asking physicians across the country to use its toll-free hotline to urge Congress to prevent Medicare cuts to physicians and, instead, to provide positive payment updates.
The AMA Grassroots Hotline -- (800) 833-6354 -- lets callers connect to their federal legislators. The AMA is asking that, once connected, callers tell their U.S. representatives and senators that action is needed now to prevent a 4.4 percent reduction in Medicare physician payments, starting Jan. 1.
Among AMA's talking points for the call:
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AMA Hotline Connects Doctors to Lawmakers
By News Staff
- Since 2001, payment updates for physicians have not kept pace with increases in practice expenses. Physicians are the only health care group faced with this issue. In an AMA survey conducted earlier this year, many physicians said another pay cut or even a payment freeze would force them to cut services to Medicare patients.
- The average physician payment rate will be less in 2006 than it was in 2001.
- Only physicians are subjected to use of a payment formula based on the sustainable growth rate, which produces negative updates because it is tied to the national economy, not to patients' health needs and the cost of their care.
- Other segments of the health care community receive payment updates based on actual costs; in 2006, Medicare Advantage Plans will see a 4.8 percent increase, hospitals a 3.7 percent increase, nursing homes a 3.1 percent increase and home health providers a 2.5 percent increase.
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