Support HR 3200 "Johnson Amendment"

[flashgordon]

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Urge support for anesthesiology-specific amendment to h.r. 3200

Rep. Eddie bernice johnson (d-tx-30) has introduced an amendment to h.r. 3200, health reform legislation in the u.s. House of representatives, that would de-link anesthesia payments from medicare rates under a public plan.

Under the “Johnson Amendment,” payments for anesthesia services would be based on the average of the payment rates of commercial insurers and health plans participating in the “exchange.” this would level the playing field and ensure fair anesthesiology payments.

Please call your representative and ask him or her to support the Johnson Amendment.

Democratic leadership is involved in closed-door negotiations to craft the final house health reform bill. In the process, they must merge three separate committee versions of the bill, two of which include a public plan based upon medicare payment rates. Asa has consistently lobbied for negotiated payment rates, as included in a third committee version of h.r. 3200.

The content of h.r. 3200 changes hourly. However, press reports and information from asa lobbyists indicate that the house is leaning heavily toward including a public plan tied to medicare rates.

Rep. Johnson is working with speaker pelosi's office in an effort to have her amendment language incorporated into whatever version of h.r. 3200 is ultimately brought to the floor of the house by the democratic leadership. The precise mechanism by which the language would be incorporated has not yet been determined. Additionally, the specific date for full house consideration of h.r. 3200 has not yet been determined but could occur within the next 7-10 days.

Your representative’s support of the Johnson Amendment is extremely important at this point in the process. The addition of co-sponsors will strengthen rep. Johnson’s efforts. Please contact your member of congress (again, if necessary), and ask that he or she co-sponsor the Johnson Amendment.

We ALL need to do this, not just 1-2 residents. Getting paid medicare rates will severely damage this specialty.

capwiz (includes talking points and call instructions).

 

[Ginz20]

I already emailed my Congressman, and I agree with Flash that everyone else should take a few minutes and do the same.

 

[deleted50478]

I already emailed my Congressman, and I agree with Flash that everyone else should take a few minutes and do the same.

I read that even the Pelosi plan will use negotiated rates.
Not that she wants to treat doctors fairly, she just had to compromise.

 

[coprolalia]

I don't support anything to do with this bill. It is ****ty legislation, all the way around, and the only thing it is going to accomplish in the long run is lower reimbursement for all physicians as well as create an humongous increase in our national debt.

Don't negotiate with someone trying to sell you a cart full of ****. Just tell the ****-peddler you're not interested. Period.

-copro

 

[foxtrot]

I don't support anything to do with this bill. It is ****ty legislation, all the way around, and the only thing it is going to accomplish in the long run is lower reimbursement for all physicians as well as create an humongous increase in our national debt.

Don't negotiate with someone trying to sell you a cart full of ****. Just tell the ****-peddler you're not interested. Period.

-copro

Ditto

 

[deleted50478]

Ditto

I totally agree. I mean, it is great that initially we will have the right to negotiate rates, but it wouldn't be hard and won't take long to change that provision after the fact. Once the big fight is over the screwing can really begin.

 

[ozzie20]

It almost seems as though the profession of anesthesiology for physicians is looking darker and darker by the day, not month or year. Last week things looked up when we weren't going to be served medicare rates, now something different.

Either way, from the looks of it, no matter what comes of this new round of healthcare reform, we lose.

 

[coprolalia]

Listen, I've got a Johnson they can amend right here if this bill gets passed... That's all anyone needs to know.

-copro

 

[miamidc]

I would think that negotiated rates should solve our biggest problem, which is to say the new public option will not be following medicare rates whatsoever. If they are to negotiate, it is to say that they will want anesthesiologists to participate so they have to pony up our market value. Am I wrong, why is the field getting darker, i dont get it. We will lose proportional to other specialties so Im not as upset. Any thoughts?

 

[deleted50478]

I would think that negotiated rates should solve our biggest problem, which is to say the new public option will not be following medicare rates whatsoever. If they are to negotiate, it is to say that they will want anesthesiologists to participate so they have to pony up our market value. Am I wrong, why is the field getting darker, i dont get it. We will lose proportional to other specialties so Im not as upset. Any thoughts?

Negotiated rates would be favorable as long as they are in place. The problem is that if a government payor is created, the negotiated rates can be removed with the stroke of a pen, eg. with an amendment to an unrelated bill in the middle of the night. Government control is a set up for unfair treatment. That isn't to say that we will definately lose our right to negotiate rates for our service, but that sort of change will be easier to make once the big bill is through.

The bill that would really help would be a correction of the medicare and worse medicaid payment rates.