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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 21, 2001
Contact: Pamela Ingham
(212) 308-1414
AGS Supports Medicare Physician Payment Fairness Act of 2001
New York, NY-The American Geriatrics Society (AGS) is
giving its strong support to the Medicare Physician Payment Fairness Act
of 2001 (S. 1707), which is "urgently needed" to prevent a 5.4 percent
Medicare payment cut to physicians next year.
This is the fourth Medicare payment cut to physicians
over the last ten years. If the 5.4 percent cut becomes effective, Medicare
payments to physicians will have averaged only a 1.1 percent increase
per year since 1991, or 13 percent less than the increase in physician
practice costs.
Supported by Sens. Jim Jeffords (I - Vt.), John Breaux
(D - La.), and Jon Kyl (R - AZ), S. 1707 would prevent the cut from becoming
effective January 1, 2002. It would also allow Congress, in conjunction
with MedPAC, to reconsider the flawed physician payment update formula
that has resulted in such sharp Medicare payment reductions.
The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) has
stated that significant cuts in physician payments next year could raise
concerns about the adequacy of payment and beneficiary access to care.
"We are encouraging all health care professionals who
care for elderly patients to contact legislators to voice support for
the Medicare Physician Payment Fairness Act of 2001," said Ken Brummel-Smith,
MD, AGS President.
Sample materials are available on the AGS Web site (www.americangeriatrics.org)
for use when contacting Senators on this important issue.
# # #
Founded in 1942, the American Geriatrics Society (AGS) is a nationwide, not-for-profit association of geriatrics health care professionals dedicated to improving the health, independence and quality of life of all older people. The society supports this mission in many ways through activities in: clinical practice; professional education on the clinical care of older people; research; public education and information; public policy efforts; and by collaborative relationships with other organizations.
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