COMMENT: While we all watch with significant interest the Health Insurance reform discussions, it appears that there is agreement for the need to have a permanent fix for the SGR (Sustainable Growth Rate formula) with the MEI (Medicare Economic Index); however in spite of this apparent “fix” a very real and frankly, more urgent issue to all physicians in the private practice of medicine across the country is our ability to continue to provide timely access to critical office-based services. Specifically in the regional St. Louis area, access to critical cardiovascular in-office diagnostics for the significant number (hundreds of thousands) of elderly and rural patients and the additional heretofore uninsured, is in serious jeopardy.
This coming access problem is due to the CMS proposed 2010 PFS and actions being proposed in Congress. There seems to be an erroneous notion on the Hill that physicians provide in office services and diagnostic testing simply to make money. Subsequent to DRA (Deficit Reduction Act) reductions, from which major cuts have already been implemented, the fact is the amount of in-office imaging has decreased nationally. These proposed ADDITIONAL CUTS will affect our ability to provide care to the elderly, rural patients, newly insured not to mention the many other patients we care for.
QUESTION: As a member of the House or Senate, will you help us address the major threats which are in process by CMS and Congress, such as attempts to ban self referral in an office setting, major cuts in office based imaging and non-hospital based cardiac cath labs?
