Legislators Circulate Medicare
Provider Relief Letter for Signatures
January 10, 2003 - A "Dear
Colleague" being circulated by Reps. Dave Camp (R-Mich.),
Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Mary Bono (R-Calif.), Frank Pallone (D-N.J.),
Earl Pomeroy (D-N.D.), and John Shimkus (R-Ill.) is requesting
Members of Congress to sign-on to a provider
relief letter addressed to Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.)
and Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.). The letter urges
immediate legislative action to "stabilize the Medicare
program for the millions of seniors who rely on [Medicare]
for their health care needs."
The letter states, "as a result of payment reduction
and inadequate reimbursements, many beneficiaries have lost
- or are at risk of losing access to their physicians, hospitals,
Medicare+ Choice plans, nursing homes, home health services,
and other provider whom they rely on for care…. Congress
must take immediate action when the 108th Congress convenes
in January 2003 to address this urgent crisis."
In addition, Rep. Cardin Jan. 7 introduced Medicare provider
relief legislation similar to the provider provisions included
in the Medicare legislation (H.R.
4954) passed by the House in June 2002. However, the bill's
Indirect Medical Education (IME) provisions are more generous
than H.R. 4954. Cardin's legislation sets the IME at 6.5 percent
for FYs 2003, 2004 and at 6.0 percent in FY 2005 before reducing
it to 5.5 in FY 2006.
As of Jan. 9, there are over 160 signatories
to the letter.
Information:
Lynne Davis Boyle, Assistant Vice President
AAMC Office of Governmental Relations
ldavisboyle@aamc.org
(202) 828-0526
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