June 18th: Physicians Will See a 21% Cut in Medicare Payments

As the deadline has passed and the hold on claims have expired, physicians will begin to receive Medicare payments at the 21% reduced rate tomorrow.   Cecil B. Wilson, MD the newly appointed president of the American Medical Association (AMA), released a statement today regarding the cut and the Senate's failure to approve the original proposal that passed through the House of Representatives on May 28th.  'Congress has broken its promise to America's seniors and military families.'  The latest proposal offered by the Senate is a six-month delay of the cut.  As previously said in many AMA articles, this short term delay would be another Band-Aid on the problem and a permanent solution needs to happen. 

'This week congressional offices are receiving hundreds of signed white lab coats from AMA member physicians as a symbolic reminder of the need for quick resolution to the immediate Medicare crisis and the importance of solving the problem through repeal of the broken Medicare physician payment formula.'   

Read the full statement at AMA.