Medical School Deans Urge
Senate Action on Physician Payment Relief
September 27, 2002-The deans of 105 medical schools
signed a Sept. 19 letter
urging the Senate to pass Medicare physician payment relief
legislation before it adjourns. The letter was sent to the
Senate Finance Committee, as well as the full Senate. There
has been some uncertainty over when the Senate will take up
Medicare legislation, given the likelihood of Congress adjourning
before the elections.
The Deans' letter reminds the Senate that the Centers for
Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has projected a second
consecutive reduction (negative 4.4 percent) to the Conversion
Factor (CF) update for CY 2003. It also points out that although
over three-quarters of the Senate has cosponsored legislation
(the "Medicare Physician Payment Fairness Act,"
S.
1707) that would halt the scheduled reductions, no action
has been taken.
The letter expresses concern that the House-passed Medicare
package (H.R.
4954) does not address the 5.4 percent reduction in the
CY 2002 CF, nor does it call for a long-term solution to the
flawed payment formula. It asks the Senate to improve upon
the physician provisions within H.R. 4954 and "produce
legislation that diminishes the volatility and inadequacy
of physician payments in the long run."
Information:
Christiane Mitchell, Senior Legislative Affairs Manager
AAMC Government Relations
cmitchell@aamc.org
(202) 828-0526
Get Washington Highlights
in your Inbox!
| 
