AAFP Call to Action: Tell your legislators to fix Medicare payments

Since 2002, Congress has used last-minute fixes to patch the Medicare physician payment system and, as a result, physicians’ reimbursement has fallen further behind the cost of providing care. Again this year, physicians face a substantial cut in Medicare reimbursement if Congress doesn’t act to reverse the cuts with an increase or freeze the payment rates.

With input from AAFP, the Senate Finance Committee is crafting legislation to counteract the estimated 15-percent reduction scheduled to take place in the 2008 and 2009 under the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule. AAFP is urging members to activate grassroots advocacy tools and push for a two-year payment increase. For more on this draft legislation, check out this story from AAFP News Now, Oct. 25, 2008.

Make your voice heard; tell legislators to provide a two-year payment increase in physician reimbursement. Visit AAFP’s Legislative Action Center for more information on what you can do to advocate for the specialty. Look up your legislators’ contact information and contact them today.