FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 28, 2010

AOA Frustrated and Angry that Congress Has Once Again Failed To Act on SGR
This statement can be attributed to Larry A. Wickless, DO, President of the AOA

(Washington, DC) – The American Osteopathic Association (AOA) and our 67,000 members are frustrated and angry that the United States Congress has once again failed to enact legislation that would ensure access to health care for millions of Medicare beneficiaries and military families.

Today, Members of the U.S. Congress will return to their states for the Memorial Day recess knowing that a devastating 21% cut in Medicare physician payments will be implemented on Tuesday, June 1. Each Member of Congress understands that the implementation of this cut jeopardizes access to physicians for our nation’s seniors, the disabled, and military families. Each Member of Congress understands that the failure to address this issue further persuades our nation’s physicians to evaluate their participation in the Medicare program. Yet Congress adjourned.

Earlier this month, a meaningful and thoughtful proposal was put forth by the House and Senate leadership that would have provided stability in physician payments through 2014. While well short of the long-term reforms the AOA supports, we believed the policy had the ability to transition the current payment formula towards a more predictable and equitable pathway over the next four years. Therefore, the AOA supported the proposal.

The proposal would have ensured that every physician participating in the Medicare program received positive payment updates for 2010 and 2011, after which it would transition to a new payment methodology in 2012 and 2013. The new payment methodology was based upon the AOA-supported “Medicare Physician Payment Reform Act” (HR 3961), which was approved by the House in October 2009. The proposed bill would have ensured no physician faced cuts for two years (2012-2013) and that currently undervalued primary care and preventive services would receive equitable annual updates. Sadly, Members of Congress in both parties swiftly rejected this proposal.

Following the demise of the longer term policy, the House and the Senate attempted to enact legislation that would have prevented the implementation of the projected cut and provide positive payment updates in 2010 and 2011. While this policy may ultimately be enacted into law, the failure of the House and Senate to act in a responsible manner ahead of the June 1 implementation date sends a clear message to our nation’s patients and physicians – access to quality and timely health care will have to wait.

The AOA questions whether Congress has the willingness and ability to act in an affirmative manner with respect to this policy quagmire. Both parties speak of their commitment to resolving this issue, yet members of both parties consistently reject the meaningful proposals put forth that would either repeal or reform this failed policy. After more than eight years of political posturing, broken promises, and failed proposals, the AOA now views the Medicare program as an unreliable and unstable program for beneficiaries and physicians. We have little doubt that our members will limit their participation in Medicare and TRICARE as a result of unpredictable policies.

On June 7, Congress will return to Washington. The AOA calls upon Members to take immediate and decisive action to enact legislation that will reform the nation’s Medicare physician payment formula. While a short-term solution may be necessary, it must be retroactive and it must provide meaningful payment updates for an extended period of time – not a freeze. The AOA unequivocally states that we do not view a 19 month extension as meaningful reform – it is simply a temporary extension of a failed policy. The partisan political bickering must end. Congress must act in a responsible manner to preserve the Medicare and TRICARE programs.

The American Osteopathic Association (AOA) proudly represents its professional family of more than 67,000 osteopathic physicians (DOs); promotes public health; encourages scientific research; serves as the primary certifying body for DOs; is the accrediting agency for osteopathic medical colleges; and has federal authority to accredit hospitals and other health care facilities. More information on DOs/osteopathic medicine can be found at www.osteopathic.org.

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Contact:
Leann Fox
Director of Washington Advocacy and Communications
(202) 414-0144
lfox@osteopathic.org