MINNEAPOLIS, March 26, 2008—The American Medical Association has responded to the Trustees report released Tuesday by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

“Once again, Medicare’s Trustees have rung the alarm bell that the long-term fiscal solvency of the program is in serious trouble," said Edward Langston, M.D., chair of the AMA board, as he called on Congress to create a "viable safety net" for future generations of seniors.

"Cutting Medicare physician payments 41 percent over nine years while practice costs increase is penny-wise and pound foolish," Langston said. "Trying to save Medicare money by slashing physician payments will ruin the physician foundation of Medicare for current and future generations of seniors."

Langston quoted a survey saying that sixty percent of physicians say this year’s cut alone will force them to limit the number of new Medicare patients they can treat. "Couple this fact with a physician shortage and the huge influx of baby boomers soon to enter Medicare, and the outlook for Medicare patients’ access to care is grim." 

He called on Congress to take immediate action to preserve seniors’ access to care as the first cut begins this July – and will total more than 15 percent by the end of 2009.

Langston called on physicians to supports the Save Medicare Act of 2008 (S.2785), which will replace 18 months of cuts with payment updates that better reflect medical practice cost increases. The AMA is planning a "House Call" next week to let Congress know how physicians feel.

The MMA will be participating in the House Call, sending members -- including President James J. Dehen Jr., M.D., and President-elect George Schoephoerster, M.D., to Washington, D.C., to take part.

 Write your Senator asking for sponsorship for S. 2785