AMA Decries Looming Medicare Cuts; Cites Poll Supporting Congressional Action
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA—Ninety-four percent of Americans are concerned about a looming Medicare cut to doctors, according to a new American Medical Association (AMA) poll released today at the organization’s semi-annual meeting of physician leaders. Without congressional action, physicians caring for seniors face a 25% cut that will affect seniors’ health care. A new AMA ad is being published nationally today in USA Today and will also run in Washington, D.C. publications next week when Congress reconvenes.
“Our new poll sends a message to Congress that the American people want them to stop the Medicare cut with 95% of seniors saying Congress should act immediately to stop it,” said AMA President Cecil B. Wilson, M.D. from a news conference at the meeting. “On December 1 the cut begins, and if Congress has not acted seniors will suffer.
According to the AMA, about one in five physicians say they have been forced to limit the number of Medicare patients in their practice because of the ongoing threat of cuts and the fact that Medicare payment rates were already too low. “Physicians want to care for seniors, but it is nearly impossible for many physicians to keep their practices open to all Medicare patients when they face a 25% payment cut,” said Dr. Wilson.
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