Everyone thought the annual cut-payments-for-Medicare-patients dance was going to end.

Wrong.

The goal of legislation was to provide clarity and stability in funding so that physician practices could know what payments would be coming in.

If physicians stop accepting Medicare patients because they have no choice, this would be the reason.

American College of Physicians

“The American College of Physicians (ACP) is deeply disappointed by Congress’ recurring failure to pass legislation to stop a devastating 21 percent cut in Medicare and TRICARE payments to physicians. Because of Congress’ failure, the cut will go into effect on June 1.

“Internists and their patients are rightly angered by the fact that too many of their elected representatives and senators chose to put politics ahead of ensuring that seniors and military families have access to health care.

“We acknowledge and appreciate that the House and Senate leadership and President Obama have advocated for legislation to halt the immediate cut and had sought a longer-term approach.

“Yet the fact remains that time-and-time again, too many members of Congress from both political parties have refused to support legislation to prevent the cut and provide long-term stability in Medicare.

“They have declined to support legislation to move toward a better and more stable payment system, which could have served as the basis for permanent repeal of the unworkable Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) formula.

“They have withheld their support even though they knew that the result will be to further undermine physicians’ and patients’ faith in Medicare and TRICARE.

“They withheld their support, even though they knew it would introduce chaos into physician practices. Physicians, once again, are left with trying to keep their doors open for their patients without knowing, from month to month, how much Medicare and TRICARE will reimburse them for their services.”

Source: American College of Physicians, Statement byJ. Fred Ralston, Jr., MD, FACP
President, American College of Physicians, May 28, 2010