Ophthalmologists urge Congress to avert substantial Medicare physician payment cut

Ophthalmologists gathered at the U.S. Capitol this week to urge Congress to prevent a significant Medicare physician payment cut.

More than 400 ophthalmologists participated in annual Advocacy Day events, the American Academy of Ophthalmology announced in a news release.

On Jan. 2, the House of Representatives passed legislation that delayed the payment cut for 1 year. A 26.5% cut had been scheduled to take effect Jan. 1. The cut stems from the sustainable growth rate, a key factor in annual Medicare payment updates.

According to the AAO release, the cuts would adversely affect senior citizens’ eye health.

“Tens of millions of older Americans depend on Medicare to provide timely access to sight-preserving medical care. Without these services, seniors will be put at increased risk of vision loss and blindness,” David W. Parke II, MD, CEO of the AAO, said in the release. “Congress must take steps to prevent this by ensuring that doctors have the appropriate government support to deliver these vital services to our patients. Such action will aid our country’s health care as well as its economy.”

A survey of AAO members showed that 42.8% of ophthalmologists would be forced to reject new Medicare beneficiaries or restrict the number of new beneficiaries they see; 28.3% predicted they would have to limit access of current Medicare patients to urgent-care treatment, the release said.

The AAO, American Medical Association and other advocacy organizations have urged Congress to alter or repeal the sustainable growth rate.