MSSNY Applauds Senator Gillibrand for Joining Bi-Partisan Letter to Senate Leaders Urging Congress to Pass Legislation to Prevent Physician Medicare Cuts
For Immediate Release
December 8, 2020
MSSNY Applauds Senator Gillibrand for Joining Bi-Partisan Letter
to Senate Leaders Urging Congress to Pass Legislation
to Prevent Physician Medicare Cuts
Statement Attributable to:
Bonnie Litvack, MD
President, Medical Society of the State of New York
“MSSNY thanks Senator Kirsten Gillibrand for joining on to a bi-partisan letter to US Senate Majority Leader McConnell and US Senate Minority Leader Schumer urging Congress to pass legislation to help prevent steep cuts to Medicare physician payment for 2021 that would undoubtedly cause significant access to care issues for our seniors and exacerbate already enormous practice challenges arising from the pandemic. The cuts are the result of a statutory ‘budget neutrality’ rule that requires that any increases in Medicare payments must be offset by corresponding decreases. The letter notes, importantly, the Senators’ support for other changes to the 2021 Medicare payment rule that would provide long overdue payment increases for primary care and other office-based services.
“We also thank the many other members of New York’s Congressional delegation who joined their colleagues in a similar bi-partisan letter to House Speaker Pelosi and Minority Leader McCarthy urging that these steep cuts be prevented. The New York Congressional members—both Democrats and Republicans—that signed the letter include Representatives Brindisi, Clarke, Delgado, Jacobs, Katko, S.P. Maloney, Meeks, Morelle, Reed, Rice, Stefanik, Suozzi, and Tonko.
“We completely agree with the assessment of the Senate letter that ‘Health care professionals across the spectrum are reeling from the effects of the COVID-19 emergency as they continue to serve patients during this global pandemic. The payment cuts finalized by CMS would pose a threat to providers and their patients under any circumstances, but during a pandemic the impact is even more profound.’
“We urge Congress to take action in the next few weeks to prevent these cuts.”
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Founded in 1807, the Medical Society of the State of New York is the state’s principal non-profit professional organization for physicians, residents and medical students of all specialties. Its mission is to represent the interests of patients and physicians to assure quality healthcare services for all.
Media Contact:
Roseann Raia
Communications / Marketing
Medical Society of the State of New York
865 Merrick Ave.
Westbury, New York
516-488-6100 ext 302
rraia@mssny.org