APA Action Alert

[edieb]

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Raise your salaries!

psychologists in the Medicare program continually face a significant reduction in payment due to the flawed Sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula. Congress has an opportunity to permanently repeal and replace the SGR. Do not let this opportunity get away.

http://capwiz.com/apapractice/issues/alert/?alertid=63094056

 

[AcronymAllergy]

Thanks for keeping us updated on these, edieb. I typically, although not always, get these via email, but I appreciate these posts as a sort of double-check against that.

Also, do we have any word yet on progress made toward having psychologists added to the medicare "physician" definition?

 

[WisNeuro]

I sent some e-mails. Even though I hate communicating in any way with the office of Ted "I shut down the government just because I could" Cruz, I did it.

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

I e-mailed my reps.

 

[edieb]

I am not sure about the physician medicare bill. However, if you haven't contacted your respective reps with the link above, please do so

 

[AcronymAllergy]

I am not sure about the physician medicare bill. However, if you haven't contacted your respective reps with the link above, please do so

Already done on my end, and received a templated reply from one thus far.

 

[xXIDaShizIXx]

I sent some e-mails. Even though I hate communicating in any way with the office of Ted "I shut down the government just because I could" Cruz, I did it.

Unfortunately he is not the only representative that acts that way. -_- Anytime I have talked to a staffer or got a letter its always a canned response, that doesn't actually address the problem at hand.

 

[AcronymAllergy]

Unfortunately he is not the only representative that acts that way. -_- Anytime I have talked to a staffer or got a letter its always a canned response, that doesn't actually address the problem at hand.

Often ditto for me, although regarding the Medicare physician definition, the responses I received in the past often aimed to potentially justify the exclusion of psychologists from the physician medicare definition as a means of controlling healthcare costs. But even if I'm a lone dissenter, a sent letter/email is better than nothing at all. Maybe I should just start calling my reps' offices everyday...

 

[AcronymAllergy]

Just as a follow-up, I actually received somewhat optimistic (to me) canned replies from my reps, including phrases such as:

On March 14, 2014, the House approved a bill, H.R. 4015, by a vote of 238-181, which repeals the SGR permanently without adding one penny to our national debt. This bill now awaits further consideration by the U.S. Senate, and I hope that the Senate will act expeditiously on it.

and (a bit longer):

The use of SGR targets is intended to control the growth in aggregate Medicare expenditures for physicians' services. However, the formula has mandated physician fee cuts in recent years.

I am aware that this is of great concern to physicians and Medicare beneficiaries and could affect access and the quality of care. Medicare payments to physicians cover only about 65 percent of the actual cost of providing patient services. Consequently, physicians are finding it increasingly difficult to participate in the Medicare program.

I have voted for so-called "Doc Fixes" in the past that have provided temporary SGR relief for providers; however, this is a recurring problem. And as is the case in so many similar instances, Congress has been unwilling to make the tough choices to permanently resolve this issue. I am committed to seeing a physician payment formula put in place that appropriately reimburses Medicare providers without the fear of drastic cuts.

Georgia's seniors deserve to receive the best possible treatment our country has to offer, and physicians need to receive fair reimbursement for the important services they provide. As the Senate considers reforming or replacing the SGR and implementing a more sound formula for calculating physician payments, I will be sure to keep your comments in mind.