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Date: Thu, 23 Mar 2006 18:25:04 -0500
From: reply_patients_action_network@amapan.graction.com
Subject: Survey: Cuts threaten patients' access

New AMA survey shows Medicare cuts will reduce patients’ access to their doctors. Click here to send your message to Congress!    Dear Bob Owen, We need your help. A new American Medical Association (AMA) Member Connect® Survey shows that drastic cuts in Medicare payments will make it harder for patients to see their doctor. If Congress doesn’t act soon, Medicare will cut what it reimburses doctors for treating America’s seniors by about 5 percent next year and a staggering 34 percent over the next nine years—forcing many doctors to downsize their practices. Consider some of these alarming survey results: Nearly half of all doctors said a Medicare cut in 2007 will force them to decrease or stop seeing new patients and to discontinue nursing home visits. A majority of doctors in rural communities said they would no longer be able to conduct important outreach services due to nine years of projected cuts. And nearly two-thirds of doctors said the Medicare cuts will force them to delay purchasing critical new medical equipment and information technology. Nearly two-thirds of doctors also reported that more Medicare patients are now being treated in emergency rooms for conditions that could have been treated in a physician’s office, that it’s gotten harder to refer patients to certain medical and surgical specialists, and that many seniors now have to travel further for needed medical care. We will provide you with additional information on this critical issue in the coming weeks. In the meantime, please click here to send an e-mail to your senators and representative, or call them using the AMA’s Patients’ Action Network Hotline at (888) 434-6200. Thank you for your continued support and assistance. Your message to Congress: Dear Representative/Senator, I’m writing to ask you to make sure America’s patients continue to have access to their doctors by stopping drastic Medicare cuts. If Congress doesn’t act soon, Medicare will cut what it pays doctors who take care of America’s seniors by a whopping 34 percent over the next nine years, including a 5 percent cut next year—and patients like me will suffer the consequences! According to a recent American Medical Association survey, these cuts will force many doctors to downsize their practices, making it harder for patients all over the country to see their doctor. And just as troubling, a majority of doctors said they will be forced to stop making nursing home visits, discontinue important rural outreach programs, and put off buying critical new medical equipment and computer technology. As it is, the Medicare program is stressed to the breaking point. Nearly two-thirds of doctors reported that more Medicare patients are now being treated in emergency rooms for conditions that could have been treated in a doctor’s office, that it’s gotten harder to refer patients to certain medical and surgical specialists and that many seniors now have to travel further for needed medical care. Again, this situation is unacceptable. Please do all you can to protect our access to doctors by stopping these drastic Medicare physician cuts. Sincerely, Bob Owen   © AMA, Patient's Action Network | All Rights Reserved unsubscribe