ISMA e-Reports, Special Alert, December 11, 2006

Congress halts Medicare pay cut

Calls to Congress for action brought results. The U.S. House and Senate voted Dec. 8 and 9 to stop next year’s Medicare pay cut for physicians.

Passage of the legislation resulted from a tremendous team effort by all of organized medicine – the AMA, state medical societies, specialty medical societies – plus numerous individual physicians and patients who contacted Congress.

“This action stops next year's cut by maintaining the current 2006 payment rate, and also sets aside funds to avert cuts in 2008,” said Cecil Wilson, M.D., AMA Board chair. The legislation stops additional Medicare cuts to rural physicians as well.

The AMA restated its commitment to work for a more permanent solution to the flawed Medicare physician payment formula.

Watch this Web Site and ISMA Reports for further details on the new legislation as it becomes available.