ACC, other medical associations demand permanent SGR Repeal
The American College of Cardiology (ACC) has joined recent efforts that call for a permanent fix to the flawed sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula.
After much debate, the House and Senate finally agreed to a two-month extension on Dec. 23, 2011, with promise of a conference committee in early 2012 to iron out differences.
The ACC and 109 other specialty and state medical associations recently signed a letter addressed to Congressman Dave Camp, R-Mich, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, encouraging conferees to repeal the SGR once and for all.
The letter urges the Chairman to investigate using “excess baseline projections for Overseas Contingency Operations to help offset necessary Medicare baseline changes”. This approach would essentially “clean the books” without increasing the federal deficit, opening up an opportunity to establish a sustainable physician payment system that focuses on quality and provides security for physicians.
After much debate, the House and Senate finally agreed to a two-month extension on Dec. 23, 2011, with promise of a conference committee in early 2012 to iron out differences.
The ACC and 109 other specialty and state medical associations recently signed a letter addressed to Congressman Dave Camp, R-Mich, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, encouraging conferees to repeal the SGR once and for all.
The letter urges the Chairman to investigate using “excess baseline projections for Overseas Contingency Operations to help offset necessary Medicare baseline changes”. This approach would essentially “clean the books” without increasing the federal deficit, opening up an opportunity to establish a sustainable physician payment system that focuses on quality and provides security for physicians.