AAMC Letter of Support for
the "Medicare Physician Payment Fairness Act of 2001" (S.1707/H.R.3351)
Sent to Original Cosponsors: Sen. Jeffords (I-VT), Sen. Breaux
(D-LA), Rep. Bilirakis (R-FL), and Rep. Brown (D-OH)
November 13, 2001
The Honorable James Jeffords
728 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Dear Senator Jeffords:
On behalf of the 125 medical schools, over 400 major teaching
hospitals, and 90 academic and professional societies represented
by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), I
write to thank you and express our support for the "Medicare
Physician Payment Fairness Act of 2001" (S. 1707), which
you introduced on November 8, 2001.
Your legislation will help assure that physicians receive
Medicare payments that fairly reflect the distinctive costs
associated with caring for older Americans. This issue is
especially important to physicians who serve as medical school
faculty members and who care for a large proportion of Medicare
beneficiaries, including many patients with chronic or complex
medical needs.
We strongly support S. 1707 for reducing the 2002 cut to
the Medicare physician payment conversion factor from -5.4%
to -0.9%. This is a critical interim remedy that provides
vital relief until problems with the sustainable growth rate
(SGR) can be fully identified and resolved. During the past
year, several groups, including MedPAC, have identified the
SGR as a critical flaw in the formula used to calculate physician
payments. We also applaud your legislation for expediting
further investigation and potential alternatives regarding
the SGR.
The AAMC appreciates your leadership in addressing the immediate
and long-term problems related to the Medicare conversion
factor for physician payments, and we look forward to working
with you and your staff to gather support for S. 1707.
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