Dear Mr. Dodaro:
The undersigned Members of Congress write to express our support for the appointment of a
specialty physician, particularly a surgeon, for a position on the Medicare Payment Advisory
Commission (MedPAC).
Every day, there are approximately 10,000 new enrollees in the Medicare program. This is a
record surge in Medicare enrollment, and it’s expected to continue for the next 15 years as the
baby boomers age into their golden years. It also means that the total number of Medicare
beneficiaries is expected to double within the next 20 years. The Congressional Budget Office
(CBO) projects that 80 million Americans will be eligible for Medicare by 2035 if current trends
hold. At the same time, the demand for specialty care is ever increasing,
The healthcare system is rapidly transforming to meet these demands, and the passage of the
Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Program will alter the delivery of care. Improving
the value of care will be central to ensuring that the Medicare program remains a robust
healthcare program well into the future, and the role of specialists is essential to achieve this
goal. The success of alternative payment models depends on the participation of specialists who
are in critical positions to help improve care and hold down costs. MedPAC stands to benefit
from the input of physicians who are well versed in Medicare payment systems, including fee-
for-service, to help the program realize these changes.
Our elderly face a wide-range of healthcare challenges and timely access to appropriate specialty
care can be the difference between permanent disability and death, or the preservation of health.
Specialty physician expertise on MedPAC will help guide the Commission through key
discussions regarding policy recommendations that preserve timely access to lifesaving
treatments and promote cost effective payment systems.
We encourage you to appoint a practicing physician specialist to MedPAC and thank you for
your consideration of our request.
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