AMA fights Medicare cuts.

Physicians report that they will severely limit the numbers of Medicare patients they treat if Congress doesn't act to avert planned Medicare physician payment cuts, which will total 10% on Jan. 1, 2008, and will reach about 40% over the next 9 years, according to an American Medical Association survey of nearly 9,000 physicians. If Medicare payment rates are cut by 10% in January, 60% of physicians report that they will limit new Medicare patients, and 40% say they will limit established Medicare patients, the AMA survey found. "As physicians brace for nine years of steep payment cuts, it will be extremely difficult for them to continue accepting new Medicare patients into their practices," said AMA Board Chair Dr. Cecil Wilson. "The baby boomers begin entering the program in 2010, and the Medicare cuts increase the likelihood that there may not be enough doctors to care for the huge in flux of new Medicare patients." Med-PAC, Congress' advisory committee on Medicare, has recommended that Congress halt next year's 10% cut and update payments 1.7% in line with practice cost increases. The AMA has launched a publicity campaign to urge federal lawmakers to deflect the cuts and update payment rates based on practice cost increases.