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President recognizes AAO for bipartisan support
At a special reception in the White House Rose Garden, President Barack Obama recognized David W. Parke II, MD, CEO of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, and other medical community leaders for their support of the bipartisan bill that repealed the Medicare sustainable growth rate formula.
H.R. 2, the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act, was passed by the House of Representatives on March 26 and the Senate on April 14, and was signed into law by the president on April 16. The legislation repeals the SGR, a key factor in annual Medicare physician payment updates, and replaces it with a merit-based payment system. It also preserves and extends the Children’s Health Insurance Plan.
“The repeal of the antiquated sustainable growth rate formula to determine Medicare physician payment is the outcome of years of tireless advocacy work by the Academy, its members and other like-minded physician groups. I congratulate all who have been involved in advocating for this legislation,” Parke said in an AAO press release. “While not perfect, this bill is a meaningful step toward finally achieving stable funding to support continuity of care for a growing population of seniors who rely on long-term, ongoing treatment from their physicians of choice. Lawmakers put aside their party differences to listen and take action to address physicians’ concerns. The nation’s eye physicians and surgeons are hopeful that our voices will continue to be heard by Washington in the future as we fight for further legislation to improve medical care for our patients.”
David W. Parke II, MD, CEO of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, joined President Barack Obama in a special reception at the White House Rose Garden to celebrate the enactment of the overwhelmingly bipartisan law, the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act.
Source: American Academy of Ophthalmology