December 10, 2009
ASA opposes extension of Medicare payment rates in letter to Senate Leader Reid – Take action today
In a recent development in the health reform debate, Senate leaders are proposing a Medicare “buy-in” that would permit people 55 years and over to join the program. ASA strongly opposes this proposal. ASA remains adamantly opposed to any extension of Medicare payment rates—whether through a public plan option or buy-in.
Accordingly, ASA President Alex Hannenberg, M.D., reached out to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to reiterate ASA’s opposition of H.R. 3590, the “Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.” In addition to the new Medicare buy-in proposal, the Senate’s version of health reform legislation contains a number of other provisions that would be detrimental to anesthesiologists and the patients who receive their care.
Dr. Hannenberg’s letter to Sen. Reid
In the letter, Dr. Hannenberg outlined a number of ASA’s specific concerns about the Senate bill:
- Any expansion of Medicare payment levels including a Medicare buy-in;
- The so-called “non-discrimination” provision that could confuse patients about providers’ education, skills and training;
- IMAB, an “Independent Medicare Advisory Board” that could make across-the-board cuts to physician payments with limited accountability;
- A lack of meaningful SGR reform; and
- Failure to address broad-based physician shortages.
Dr. Hannenberg’s message was a follow-up to a letter ASA had co-signed with a surgical coalition in opposition of the “Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.” Both letters contain ASA’s consistent message that an expansion of Medicare rates would be unacceptable. For a copy of the coalition letter, click here.
We need your help echoing ASA’s strong opposition of provisions included in the Senate’s health reform bill. Please CALL your Senators today regarding the referenced provisions.
Take action now (includes call instructions and talking points)
Additional information will be posted to the ASA website as the Senate moves through the amendment process. Please also follow the ASA Grassroots Network on Twitter and Facebook for the latest developments.