Washington, D.C. – U.S. Congressman John D. Dingell (D-MI15) released the following statement today on a bipartisan letter the House Energy and Commerce Committee sent to 51 medical associations requesting insight for improving the Medicare physician payment system.
Congress has passed five temporary adjustments to keep payments from being reduced for physicians in 2010, which would strain Medicare patients’ access to care. Unless action is taken, physician payments will be cut by 29 percent cut in 2012. In the letter that Dingell signed, the committee requests ideas be submitted before it convenes a hearing in early May.
“It is clear our current payment system for physicians under Medicare is broken, and we cannot continue to kick this can down the road,” said Dingell. “I look forward to hearing from physicians and providers to help direct us as we work to develop more sound policy that will ensure stability to the Medicare program.”
Click here to view a copy of the letter and click here to view the recipients of the letter.
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