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| Wilson Supports Senior Access to Healthcare |
July 14, 2005 |
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| Congresswoman Works to Prevent Cut in Physician Reimbursement
Washington, DC – Congresswoman Heather Wilson today announced she is cosponsoring legislation to prevent a Medicare reimbursement cut for New Mexico’s physicians because she is concerned the change could limit medical options for seniors.
Physicians face a 4.3 percent cut in Medicare reimbursement rates in 2006 due to the sustainable growth rate formula. With Wilson’s support, Congress temporarily prevented a similar cut in 2004 with a two-year increase, but that increase is set to expire at the end of the year. Wilson has advocated a permanent fix to prevent the problem from recurring.
“We want seniors to have access to the best care and the physicians of their choice,” Wilson said. “We don’t want doctors limiting the number of Medicare patients they’ll accept because of a rate cut.”
“The New Mexico Medical Society applauds Congresswoman Heather Wilson for co-sponsoring H.R. 2356. We must do everything possible to preserve medical care for our nation’s elderly and others covered by our Medicare program,” said Randy Marshall, NMMS Executive Director.
The Medicare trustees have estimated that payments to doctors would decrease by 26 percent over the next five years if Congress does not act.
A recent survey by the American Medical Association indicated that 38 percent of physicians could decrease the number of Medicare patients they accept if there were cuts to the reimbursement rate.
The Preserving Patient Access to Physicians Act of 2005 (H.R. 2356) would replace the sustainable growth rate payment formula in 2007 with a new formula reflecting prices of services and general economic productivity. The bill would also include a 2.7 percent update for 2006.
The current sustainable growth rate formula provides payment updates for physicians, nurses, physical therapists, chiropractors, physician assistants, nurse practitioners and other health care providers.
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