Last week AAHKS members sent 415 letters to Congress via the AAHKS website. As of this post, the 113th Congress adjourned without taking action on critical Medicare Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) reform legislation. Physicians are facing a 21.2% Medicare rate reduction on April 1, 2015 if Congress does not act. The medical community is united in the view that continued “kicking the can down the road” on SGR reform is unacceptable.
Congressional leaders got close this year to finally instituting lasting reforms, but we will need to keep the pressure up in the new 114th Congress to educate new lawmakers about the importance of Medicare beneficiary access to quality health care. AAHKS members have proved their willingness to heed the call to contact their lawmakers in the past – we will be redoubling such efforts in the new year.