Medicare Physician Payment Reform Act of 2009

Call your U.S. Representative today!

Next week, a floor vote is planned in the House of Representatives on H.R. 3961, the “Medicare Physician Payment Reform Act of 2009.” This legislation would permanently repeal the sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula that calls for annual cuts in Medicare physician payments, and replace it with a new, more rational payment system.

In less than two months, Medicare payments will be slashed by more than 21 percent because of the SGR formula. Past short-term patches have only made the problem worse. This is the time to solve the problem once and for all, to preserve access to care and provide physician practices with the financial stability they need to help build a 21st century health care system.

It is imperative that you contact your U.S. representatives today to ask that they vote for H.R. 3961.

Call (800) 833-6354, the AMA Grassroots Hotline, to be directly connected with your representative.

Tell your representative:
•Congress must fulfill its obligations to Medicare patients and military families covered by TRICARE.
•Short-term patches that only make future cuts deeper and the cost of a permanent solution more expensive are not the answer.
•The fiscally responsible solution is permanent repeal of the SGR formula.
•Vote “YES” on H.R. 3961.

Send an e-mail directly to your representative through the AMA Grassroots Action Center at www.ama-assn.org/go/grassroots.