News Release
December 12, 2013
Each year, America’s seniors and their doctors wait and watch while a flawed formula passed by Congress more than a decade ago threatens double-digit cuts to Medicare physicians. This Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) formula is clearly inadequate, and today’s House and Senate Committee votes to repeal it mark an important first step to improve Medicare payments to doctors while preserving seniors’ access to their trusted physicians. Replacing the current volume-based payment system with one that bases payments on the quality and efficiency of care is good news for seniors and for the Medicare program overall.
More work remains to be done as the House and Senate continue their efforts to find ways to pay for this legislation. Our top priority is to ensure those costs are not shifted to seniors in Medicare, half of whom live on incomes of less than $22,500 per year and already face high out-of-pocket health care costs.”…Max Richtman, NCPSSM President/CEO
The National Committee’s letter to the Senate Finance Committee is here.
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The National Committee, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization acts in the interests of its membership through advocacy, education, services, grassroots efforts and the leadership of the Board of Directors and professional staff. The work of the National Committee is directed toward developing better-informed citizens and voters.
Media Inquiries to:
Pamela Causey 202-216-8378/202-236-2123
Kim Wright 202-216-8414
www.ncpssm.org