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MSDC, AMA, 140 Medical Societies Urge Congress to Protect Physicians
MSDC joined an industry letter outlining to Congress needed relief for physicians during the next federal stimulus bill.
On Wednesday, MSDC joined 140 medical societies on a letter to Congressional leadership outlining the top priorities for physicians in the next federal stimulus package.
The AMA letters includes state medical societies and national specialty medical associations. Addressed to leaders in both chambers and parties, the organizations "strongly urge you to take additional steps to protect patient access to care by preserving the viability of physician practices as part of the nation's essential health care system."
The letter has a number of solutions proposed, including:
- Increasing Medicaid and TRICARE payment rates to assure parity with Medicare fee-for-service payments during the duration of the public health emergency;
- Creating a direct funding mechanism - in the style of a 9/11 fund - to physician practices to provide needed financial support;
- Requiring ERISA group health plans to provide coverage for the same telehealth and telephone services being provided by medicare;
- Providing broad medical liability protections to ensure physicians are not sued for complying with public health declarations and guidelines.
The entire letter can be seen here.
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