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"Our new poll sends a message to Congress that the American people want them to stop the Medicare cut, with 95% of seniors saying Congress should act immediately to stop it," says AMA President Cecil B. Wilson, MD. "Our new national ad features seniors, a veteran and an active duty military member -- as all these groups will be hurt by the Medicare cut." Photo by Ted Grudzinski / AMA
Public concern high over impending Medicare pay cuts
■ An overwhelming majority of adults believe Congress should act immediately to prevent large reductions in physician payment, says an AMA survey.
By Victoria Stagg Elliott — Posted Nov. 8, 2010
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San Diego -- Significant reductions in physician Medicare pay are on the horizon, and most adults believe the cuts will pose a serious problem for seniors who rely on Medicare.
An overwhelming majority of Americans want Congress to act now, according to a survey of 1,000 adults released Nov. 8 at the American Medical Association Interim Meeting.
Medicare pay is scheduled to decrease 23% on Dec. 1 and an additional 2% on Jan. 1, 2011, unless Congress acts. Tricare rates are tied to those set by Medicare, and the cuts also would affect military families covered by that program.
The AMA survey, conducted online Oct. 22-26, found that 94% of adults believe the cuts posed a serious problem to seniors, and 81% said Congress should act immediately to stop the pay reductions. Among those 55 and older, 98% said the problem was serious, and 91% called for prompt congressional action. Among seniors, the response was 95% calling for action by Congress.
"On Dec. 1, the cut begins, and if Congress has not acted, seniors will suffer," AMA President Cecil B. Wilson, MD, said during a news conference.
The AMA is requesting a 13-month pay patch to give physicians some stability and time to call for a permanent solution to Medicare's sustainable growth rate formula. The Association ran an ad in the Nov. 8 USA Today urging Congress to act. Other ads are planned for Washington publications when Congress returns Nov. 15. The AMA also has posted on its website a flier that physicians can place in their offices and distribute to patients (link).
"We're pulling out the stops to get Congress to act," Dr. Wilson said.
This year's series of short-term patches has left physicians skittish about Medicare pay. A previous AMA survey of physicians found that one in five already was limiting the number of Medicare patients in response to threats to cut pay rates.
