Health Care Reform: American Academy of Ophthalmology

Health Reform

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Academy Calls for Permanent Medicare Physician Pay Fix as President Signs Health Care Reform Bill

While President Obama’s signature last month on historic and sweeping health care reform legislation marked the end of a year-long skirmish, it leaves much work ahead for ophthalmology and medicine as implementation moves forward. This monumental legislation will see many changes along the way. To help better understand the new health care reforms from ophthalmology’s perspective, the Academy has developed an overview of the legislation’s pros and cons.

The Academy, the AMA and others continue to fight for a long-term Medicare physician pay fix, because health care reform legislation failed to addresses the 21 percent cut scheduled for this year as a result of the flawed sustainable growth rate formula. This and other problematic provisions was the basis for the Academy's opposition to the final legislation.

Health Care Reform Analysis
The Academy reviews pros and cons of the health care reform bills from ophthalmology's perspective.

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What We Stand For

The Academy's Position on Reform

The Academy is advancing components for health care reform bills that protect patients and physicians. The status quo in health care is unsustainable and issues of access to coverage, quality of care and cost control must be addressed. We are calling for:

Expanded coverage and maintenance of a pluralistic health care system that provides choices for patients and physicians.
Repeal of the sustainable growth rate.
Creation of a new Medicare payment system that is fair to medicine.

While reform discussions are still ongoing and no pending legislation is perfect, the Academy has reviewed and is actively providing input on introduced bills. We are committed to continue collaborating with health leaders in Congress to improve the bills. We are actively engaged with other physician organizations as health care reform legislation moves through the House and Senate.


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