Health Care is headed for yet another crisis.

Congress plans to cut payments to all Medicare providers by more than 10% in addition to continuing a longstanding Medicare reimbursement policy that pays doctors in Santa Cruz County substantially less than their colleagues in other counties. This policy contributes to a critical shortage of primary care services as physicians leave the county and new physicians establish practices elsewhere.

To make your voice heard, contact your legislator and urge them to prevent Medicare cuts and make Medicare reimbursements comparable to physicians 'over the hill.'

Who to Write:
Speaker Nancy Pelosi
House of Representatives
235 Cannon HOB
Washington, DC 20515
Online Contact Form

Senator Dianne Feinstein
United States Senate
331 Hart Senate Office Bldg.
Washington, DC 20510
Contact form on the Web
Online Contact Form

Senator Barbara Boxer
United States Senate
112 Hart Senate Office Bldg.
Washington, DC 20510
Online Contact Form

Sample Letter

You may wish to copy and paste the following text to create your own personal letter to your representative. You may also download this letter in Microsoft Word.

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Dear [SPEAKER/SENATOR NAME],

In the last three years, the number of primary-care physicians accepting new patients in Santa Cruz County has plummeted and we have seen the availability of physicians to care for our seniors reduced substantially. A major factor affecting the recruitment and retention of these physicians is the significant disparity in the federal government’s Medicare reimbursement rate between counties.

Santa Cruz County physicians are reimbursed for their services at a low “rural” rate rather than the higher “urban” rate paid their counterparts in adjacent Santa Clara County — despite the comparably high cost of living and cost of operating a medical practice.

Currently under consideration is a Senate bill that will eliminate the 10% cut in Medicare for 2008 and the 5% cut for 2009. It adds 2% to Part B payments for providers for e-prescribing and 2% for participating in a more 'group-friendly' PQRI Medicare program. This bill also addresses our GPCI provision, which will equalize our Medicare payments with other counties.

I specifically request that you:

1) Support the legislation that is now pending to prevent a 10.6% cut in Medicare reimbursement scheduled to begin on July 1, and;

2) Push to include an amendment, known as the GPCI amendment, to address the Medicare system’s unjust geographic practice cost index, which cripples our county’s ability to retain and attract physicians to care for Medicare beneficiaries.

The physician shortage is reaching a critical stage in Santa Cruz County, along with the ability to provide quality care for our seniors. Eliminating this unfair practice from the reimbursement system and preventing Medicare cuts is a major part of the cure.


Sincerely,

NAME
ADDRESS
E-MAIL ADDRESS

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