On March 13, Senator Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., introduced the Save Medicare Act of 2008 (S.2785). This legislation would replace Medicare cuts totaling over 15% with positive physician payment updates from July 1, 2008 through December 31, 2009. Specifically, S. 2785 would extend the 0.5% update through December 31, 2008, averting the 10.6% cut scheduled to occur on July 1, 2008. It would also provide physicians with a 1.8% update for 2009 and extend provisions benefiting rural payment levels. Further, S. 2785 would fund the Medicare “Physician Quality Reporting Initiative” (PQRI) through 2010, providing participating physicians with an additional 1.5% payment bonus. This temporary fix would inject some stability into the system for seniors and physicians, who would otherwise be forced to make difficult practice decisions as a result of the pending payment cuts. This bill would also give Congress time to work on a long-term solution to the broken payment system without having to take multiple actions over the next 18 months to stop the pending cuts.

The most critical activity you can do in the next two weeks is to call or meet with your senators and urge them to co-sponsor S. 2785. Use the AMA toll-free grassroots hotline at (800) 833-6354 or visit the AMA web site to get in touch with your members of Congress in support of S. 2785.

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