FOR RELEASE DECEMBER 4, 2020
MAG urging Congress to take action to prevent significant Medicare reimbursement cuts to frontline physicians
The Medical Association of Georgia (MAG) is urging Congress to pass legislation to protect frontline physicians from the unprecedented cuts to their Medicare reimbursement that are scheduled to go into effect on January 1 – and a recent survey that was conducted by Cygnal found that a large percentage of Georgians view the cuts as “ill-timed and reckless.”
“The timing of these cuts could not be worse,” says MAG President Lisa Perry-Gilkes, M.D., F.A.C.S. “Despite being stretched to the limits both financially and emotionally, physicians have remained 100 percent focused on caring for their patients since the beginning of the pandemic.”
She adds that, “These heroic and tireless professionals have saved countless lives, and they should be thanked and applauded for the efforts – not subjected to a cut in reimbursement.”
Cygnal’s survey summary supports Dr. Perry-Gilkes’ views, as it notes that, “Taking a stand against these cuts is a clear electoral winner with the people of Georgia.” For example, the survey found that more than 60 percent of Georgians oppose cuts for physicians who deliver emergency, critical, and specialized care, including COVID-19 treatment.
Dr. Perry-Gilkes explains that, “The 2021 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule improves rates for primary care clinicians, but these well-deserved increases come at the expense of a lot of the frontline physicians who have responded to the COVID-19 crisis due to longstanding budget neutrality rules.”
She concludes that, “This cut would represent a significant setback for physicians and their practices and the people they employ who are struggling to keep their head above the water, something that would ultimately affect Medicare patients’ access to care. It is crucial for Congress to take this action.”
With more than 8,400 members, MAG is the leading voice for physicians in Georgia. MAG represents physicians in every specialty and practice setting. Go to www.mag.org for additional information on MAG.
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