From the American Academy of Ophthalmology

Repeal of the problematic sustainable growth rate formula currently used to calculate Medicare physician reimbursement appears to be low on the list of legislative priorities of the U.S. House of Representatives, based on a recent memo from House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, R-Va. Unless lawmakers act to repeal the SGR formula, physicians face a 24.4 percent Medicare pay cut on Jan. 1, which would threaten the viability of many physician practices and beneficiaries’ access to care.

The Academy urges members to help drive lawmakers into action, to ensure they understand that physicians, along with the 4 million employees you support and the Medicare beneficiaries you treat, will not be put on the back burner. The Academy provides tools to email your members of Congress today to prompt action on legislation that repeals the SGR formula this year.

One key congressional committee has already approved an SGR repeal bill; two other committees are contemplating action this fall. The Academy seeks members’ assistance to ensure that Congress maintains this momentum. Lawmakers must hear from ophthalmologists in their districts now to keep the pressure on congressional leaders to deal with Medicare reimbursement.

The Congressional Budget Office estimates that a long-term repeal of the SGR formula would cost $139 billion over 10 years, a figure that is drastically lower than previous estimates. Help lawmakers understand that putting off a permanent SGR solution will escalate the cost, a fiscally irresponsible course to take.

You can also send your patients to fixmedicarenow.org, the new American Medical Association website about the SGR repeal. The site provides information and tools for patients to contact legislators and share what Medicare stability would mean to them.

For more information, contact the Academy’s Governmental Affairs Division at 202.737.6662.