As you may know, on December 1st, Medicare physician payments will be reduced by 23 percent if Congress fails to act. If the December 1st deadline passes without congressional intervention, it will mark the fourth time this year that Medicare physician payments have been cut more than 20 percent. While Congress retroactively stopped these payment cuts on each occasion this year, this uncertainty has made for a very unstable financial situation for surgical practices and for the patients they serve.
Physicians in all specialties continue to strongly advocate that Congress immediately stop these cuts, but the College needs the grassroots support of Fellows around the country. I urge you to contact your Senators and Representative to stress the importance of stopping these Medicare cuts and reforming the Medicare payment system so all Americans can continue to have access to high quality surgical care.
Please call your Senators and Representative today and tell them to act THIS WEEK to stop the 23 percent cut in Medicare physician payments from taking effect on December 1st.
Now is the time for patients and physicians together to voice our strongest protests. This proposed adjustment has been scheduled each year for the past ten years, and then postponed each year. Stop the insanity !!
PHONE MESSAGE
As your constituent, I urge you to stop the 23 percent cut in Medicare physician payments scheduled for December 1st.
The flawed Medicare physician payment system threatens access to care for millions of patients, especially our nation's seniors and military families. Health care coverage does not equal access to care, and Congress must ensure that patients have access to the physician services they require.
All senators and congressman maintain a web site which includes an email option, subject; and also a telephone number with which to contact them
For Senators go to www.senate.gov and search by state for your senator
For Congressman go to www.house.gov Search by name or district, click on the contact tab and you will be given a choice between email and telephone number.