AMA opposes revision of Medicare bill

The American Medical Association recently drafted a letter to the Senate Finance Committee, stating that the Medicare Bill currently under Senate consideration should not reverse a reduction shift the cost of reversal for physician reimbursements to future years. The AMA circulated the letter to other lobbying groups for signatures but did not send it, since Senate Finance Chair Max Baucus (D-MT) "canceled the mark-up of the Medicare bill in favor of direct negotiations with the House Ways and Means Committee." Baucus recently debated this issue with committee Republicans, going back and forth about reversing reductions in Medicare physician reimbursements for one or two years.

In the draft, the AMA urges the Committee not to "rely on 'balloon financing,'" stating that "if the Finance Committee were to propose such an approach, the undersigned organizations would be forced to oppose the proposal."

To find out more:
- read this Kaiser Daily Health Report article

Related articles:
New Medicare bill would stop 10% MD pay cut. Article
Senate may roll back 10 percent Medicare fee cut for MDs. Report
Physicians see expected 10 percent Medicare cut. Report
A different perspective on Medicare cuts. Report
Physician Medicare cut may be eliminated. Report