Dear Mr. Speaker and Leader Pelosi:
The undersigned organizations of the Alliance of Specialty Medicine (the Alliance) write in support of H.R. 2, the
Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 and strongly urge enactment prior to the expiration of
the current SGR patch on March 31, 2015.
The Alliance is a coalition of medical specialty societies representing more than 100,000 physicians and
surgeons. The Alliance is very appreciative of the time and perseverance in crafting and negotiating this
legislation. Physicians and seniors have waited long enough for Congress to address this significant flaw in our
nation’s largest health program. Each year since 2002, the SGR formula has called for a substantial reduction in
Medicare physician payment rates. In 2002, payment rates were reduced by 5.4 percent. In each subsequent
year, Congress has overridden the formula and these short-term “fixes” exacerbate efforts to address the
underlying problem, add to the overall costs of repeal, and continue to undermine physician and beneficiary
confidence in the Medicare program.
Again, thank you for your bipartisan leadership. We stand ready to support you in taking this critical step that
would lay the foundation for longer-term sustainability and solvency in the Medicare program.
…
Read full letter here
