Medicare Physicians Served with 30 Percent Cut - Congress Unable to Pass Short Term Fix Before End of Year

Sacramento - Physicians taking Medicare patients will now be faced with a 27.4 percent cut in reimbursements, as Speaker Boehner announced that the House will recess without passing a short term fix.

"The impact that this political gridlock will have on patients and seniors' access to care is unimaginable," James T. Hay, M.D., President of the California Medical Association said. "Physicians will be forced to lay off staff, reduce services offered and in some worst case scenarios, close their doors altogether."

The California Medical Association, representing over 35,000 physicians from all modes of practice, has been working to restore long term stability to the Medicare program. While a short term fix is not ideal, it is still essential to make sure that health care is available to those with Medicare coverage.

"The ripple effect of this decision will be drastic," Dr. Hay added. "To say we are outraged is an understatement. Patients will be unable to see their physicians resulting in delayed care and ultimately, increased hospitalizations and illnesses that could have been prevented. Congress isn't just playing with numbers - they're risking the health of millions of seniors."