US Senate Deserts America’s Seniors, Active Duty Military Personnel and Their Families

06/27/2008

Statement from Brian P. Wicks, MD, President of the Washington State Medical Association
“A bill that would have prevented an already seriously eroded access to care problem for Medicare beneficiaries and our military and their families from getting much worse was defeated on a procedural vote in the US Senate yesterday when 40 Senators decided politics and other interests should come first.
“The failure of 40 Senators to allow HR 6331, The Medicare Improvements to Patients and Providers Act, to go to the floor for debate and action is reprehensible. Senate rules require 60 votes to override a filibuster so a measure can be debated on its merits. Yesterday’s vote was 58 to 40."

"The entire Congress has had six months to deal with the cut. Now, thanks to a few Senators, we stand at the brink of a Medicare meltdown. On July 1 the government will slash Medicare physician payments by 10.6 percent, forcing many physicians to make the difficult choice to limit the number of Medicare patients in their practices, or even stop taking Medicare patients altogether. Medicare's current payments are already below most physicians' practices' cost to provide care - these new cuts will push more practices to further limit access for these patients.
"Those senators who voted against the bill must return from their recess and political picnics and make Medicare their top priority. This is not a partisan issue - it is a patient access issue."
The Washington State Medical Association (WSMA) represents over 9,000 physicians and surgeons throughout the state of Washington. More information about the WSMA can be found at www.wsma.org.

Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to provide for coverage of additional preventive services. Provides for gradual elimination of copayment rates for Medicare psychiatric services. Places prohibitions and limitations on certain sales and marketing activities under Medicare Advantage (MA) plans and prescription drug plans. Requires offering of a range of Medicare supplemental policies. Extends the qualifying individual program. Provides for application of a full low-income subsidy assets test under the Medicare Savings Program. Eliminates Medicare part D (Voluntary Prescription Drug Benefit Program) late enrollment penalties paid by subsidy-eligible individuals.

The House and Senate go on vacation without taking care of unfinished business vital to the interest of American seniors.
If the issue of payment to physicians is not resolved quickly, many will will be forced to stop treating the elderly.

Disgusted with Congress? I am.

So here I am "STUCK IN THE MIDDLE WITH YOU".