The following statement was issued by AMA Board Chairman, Cecil Wilson, MD:

"A combination of the proposal advanced by Chairman Joe Barton (House Representative for the Sixth District of Texas) and the proposal advanced by Rep. Nancy Johnson would avert the Medicare physician payment cut in 2007 and provide a foundation for a long-term solution to preserve access to care for America's seniors.

"Chairman Barton is determined to adopt a long-term solution, and Rep. Johnson has developed some creative ideas that would advance the goal to replace the flawed Medicare physician payment formula. Chairman Grassley and Sen. Baucus are also working on promising legislation to avert looming Medicare physician payment cuts. The AMA encourages these dedicated committee leaders to work together to stop the Medicare cuts and preserve access to care for America's senior patients.


"Physicians who treat our nation's seniors have taken five years of Medicare payments that have not kept pace with practice cost increases. Medicare payments in 2006 are about the same as they were in 2001, while overall inflation has risen 15 percent since 2001. This continued underpayment puts Medicare patients' access to health care in jeopardy. Medicare patients deserve better."

"Eighty U.S. senators and 265 representatives have signed letters calling on Senate and House leaders to pass legislation before they adjourn next week to provide physicians with Medicare payments that reflect increases in medical practice costs. Congress needs to act before September 29 to ensure that seniors have continued access to Medicare's physician foundation. We urge House and Senate leaders to come together in a spirit of compromise and cooperation to act on this important issue before going home to face the voters. America's seniors deserve no less."

Sept. 21, 2006

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