The House and Senate now are discussing the next steps to address the Medicare physician payment crisis, after President Obama signed into law the Temporary Extension Act of 2010 earlier this week. The act provides another short-term sustainable growth rate (SGR) fix, halting the 21 percent Medicare physician pay cut imposed on all physicians March 1. Claims dated March 1 and later that were held by Medicare contractors will now be released for processing.

While short-term fix proposals (90 days, seven months or through the end of 2010) are being circulated, Congress continues to falter in tackling a long-term solution. Your help is critical in the Academy’s fight to permanently repeal the SGR and replace it with a fair reimbursement formula. We must keep the pressure on Congress! You can help by:

• Contacting your senators if you have not already done so and calling for a permanent repeal of the SGR formula
• Using Academy-prepared talking points to write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper and reach out to your local news radio station(s); contact your local media through the Academy Web site
• Participating in a brief survey being conducted with the American College of Surgeons and other specialty societies (the survey will take less than five minutes to complete and results will be shared with members of Congress)
• Asking your patients to write to their senators telling them to permanently fix Medicare physician payment
• Contributing to OPHTHPAC, a critical component in the Academy’s strategy to permanently repeal the SGR

Based on communications with Academy leadership, members have indicated more than ever before that they are considering opting out of the Medicare program. Members have until March 17 to change their Medicare participation status. Participation options are listed on the AMA Web site.