AMA: Congress Passes One Year Delay of Medicare Physician Cut

Bill Now Moves to President for Signature

WASHINGTON, Dec. 9, 2010 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following statement is attributable to Cecil B. Wilson, M.D., President of the American Medical Association (AMA):

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"The AMA welcomes bipartisan House passage of legislation to stop the Medicare physician payment cut for one year. Stopping the steep 25 percent Medicare cut for one year was vital to preserve seniors' access to physician care in 2011.  Many physicians made clear that this year's roller coaster ride, caused by five delays of this year's cut, forced them to make difficult practice changes like limiting the number of Medicare patients they could treat.  

"The AMA will be working closely with congressional leadership in the new year to develop a long-term solution to this perennial Medicare problem for seniors and their physicians. This one-year delay comes right as the oldest baby boomers reach age 65, adding urgency to the need for a long-term solution before this demographic tsunami swamps the Medicare program.

"Now that the legislation has passed both the U.S. Senate and House, the bill moves to the President to be signed into law. The AMA thanks bipartisan leaders in both the Senate and House and President Obama for their leadership on this issue to preserve seniors' health care.  The joint efforts of AARP, the military community, AMA and other physician groups helped make this one year delay a reality for patients and their physicians."

About the American Medical Association (AMA)

The American Medical Association helps doctors help patients by uniting physicians nationwide to work on the most important professional, public health and health policy issues. The nation's largest physician organization plays a leading role in shaping the future of medicine. For more information on the AMA, please visit www.ama-assn.org.

SOURCE American Medical Association

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