Subject: Medicare Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) Reform
Dear Chairman Camp:
On behalf of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) and the Congress of
Neurological Surgeons (CNS), representing 4,000 practicing neurosurgeons in the United States, we
appreciate the opportunity to provide you and the Ways and Means Committee with feedback on how to
reform Medicare’s sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula. As noted in your letter dated April 27, 2012, it
is essential that Congress consider the input from the physician community as it moves forward to tackle
this ongoing vexing issue. As requested, we will structure our comments in response to the specific
questions included in your letter.
Before turning to your questions, however, neurosurgery would like to take this opportunity to share our
views on several other principles related to Medicare reform:
- Fundamental reform of the entire Medicare program is essential to solving the SGR problem. Congress needs to break down Medicare’s silos; update deductibles and co-pays; and move toward a defined contribution rather than a defined benefit program. Making changes to the current physician payment system, without incorporating larger programmatic changes, is like rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.
- The SGR must be immediately repealed and Congress needs to provide a bridge for patients and providers to transition to the new Medicare system. During this transition period, it is important for Congress to provide stability in the physician payment system. Additionally, it is imperative that seniors maintain the ability to select the physician of their choice; hence fee-for-service must remain a viable option (now and into the future). To further enhance timely access to care by the physician of their choice, patients and physicians should be permitted to enter into private contracts without penalty to either party.
…
Read full letter here
