ACOFP President

By Ronnie B. Martin, DO, FACOFP dist.

June 11, 2008

Special Edition: Senate Vote Thursday on Medicare Reform
Below is new information about changes to Medicare Physician Payment. I encourage each member of ACOFP, their staff and families to contact their Senators today in support of cloture, in support of preventing the reductions, and in support of SGR and Medicare reform.

Use AOA’s toll-free advocacy hotline – 877.262.9400.-RBM

On Tuesday, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid filed for cloture on the "Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008" (S. 3101). The Senate will vote on the cloture motion on Thursday, June 12. This is a critical vote that if approved, would allow the U.S. Senate to debate and vote on legislation that will prevent implementation of a 10.6 percent cut in Medicare physician payments scheduled to take effect in less than 20 days.

As you know, without immediate Congressional action, the 10.6 percent cut and a cut of greater than 5 percent scheduled to take effect on January 1, will be realized. The "Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008" is a bipartisan bill that:

• Prevents implementation of cuts for 18 months and provides physicians with positive payment updates through December 31, 2009.
• Extends the current 0.5 percent positive payment update through December 31, 2008.
• Provides a positive payment update of 1.1 percent for 2009.
• Extends the 1.0 work GPCI for all localities until December 31, 2009.

Additionally, Senator Charles Grassley will introduce an alternative bill, the “Preserve Access to Medicare Act of 2008,” on Wednesday, June 11. Senator Grassley’s legislation is consistent with AOA policies and we will be sending a letter of support for this legislation as well. The "Preserve Access to Medicare Act of 2008" would:

• Prevent implementation of cuts for 18 months and provide physicians with positive payment updates through December 31, 2009.
• Extends the current 0.5 percent positive payment update through December 31, 2008.
• Provides a positive payment update of 1.1 percent for 2009.
• Extends the 1.0 work GPCI for all localities until December 31, 2009.

The AOA is reaching out to Senators in an attempt to secure support for the cloture vote. The vote on cloture should occur around 10 am on Thursday, June 12 .

Make your opinions known! Send an email to me and ACOFP. Share your thoughts, make comments, and tell us what you have been doing in regards to osteopathic family medicine.

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