Another week. Same story. Patients face drastic cuts in Medicare services unless Congress takes action to reform physician payment systems like the flawed sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula. If not repealed, the SGR will hit Medicare physicians with a 30 percent cut on January 1. Cuts of this magnitude would have a detrimental impact on patients’ access to care.
Congress must act!
The path forward began with a new committee to address the nation’s growing budget deficit. The Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction, or “supercommittee,” concluded its second week of formal meetings to find $1.2 trillion in deficit reduction by discussing potential reforms to the tax code, Social Security and Medicare — including repeal of the SGR.
The supercommittee began the week with a recommendation from President Obama to repeal the SGR. The president isn’t alone. Multiple bipartisan deficit reduction proposals have been reviewed by the supercommittee. The message is clear: End the short-term budget gimmicks, protect Medicare services in a fiscally responsible manner and repeal the SGR.
Patients remain engaged in the fight to stop drastic cuts that put Medicare services at risk. Every email and every call to Congress enhances the message that repeal of the SGR will protect access to care while achieving a fiscally responsible solution to the nation’s deficit.
HOW CAN YOU GET INVOLVED?
Congress must hear from constituents in their districts. Please help us keep up the pressure on all members of Congress and continue contacting your representative and senators by using our toll-free grassroots hotline. Call (888) 434-6200 to be connected with their district offices today. Tell them that eliminating the SGR is an essential element of any effort to reform Medicare. Urge them to promote the message that a repeal of the SGR should be part of any solution to address the budget deficit — failure to act only leads to increased costs in the future.
Congress must make SGR repeal a priority for the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction.
