The AMA recently announced its support of the new Senate Finance Medicare bill. The bill would provide for a prescription drug benefit and expanding private plan options in their Medicare Reform bill.
Earlier this year, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services predicted that Medicare physician payments might be cut by 4.2 percent in January 2004. The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission – an advisory group established by Congress – has recommended increasing payments by 2.5 percent (instead of the 4.2 percent cut) and replacing the flawed Medicare physician payment formula with something that keeps pace with annual increases in medical practice costs. Physicians may write to their congressman regarding Senate Bill 1 through The AMC/NOMA’s website under the “Legislation” link at www.amcnoma.org