Sens. Corker and Alexander failed to act on H.R. 6331, the "Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act." Failing to take such action on this act will seriously damage the delivery of healthcare services to Medicare patients as physicians stop accepting new Medicare patients and potentially stop serving Medicare patients they have treated previously.
Our senators have tried to justify their lack of action because the bill altered funding to the Regional Medical Center in Memphis. As a practicing physician who has worked in "The Med" and is now in private practice, I can confidently say that the failure of this act in Congress will only further damage an already injured Medicare system.
The Med treats primarily indigent patients in the mid-south. However, The Med's numbers do not even compare to the thousands of Medicare patients who will suffer if our senators continue to ignore this legislation. Hundreds of thousands of Medicare patients will encounter difficulty with all physician services because of these cuts.
I have several colleagues who are facing larger patient volumes to make ends meet, fewer staff to assist patients, and a fear that the overall quality of care for Medicare patients will deteriorate. Is this really what we want to happen to our elderly and disabled?
Our senators have sold out Medicare patients for a hospital that could be funded in other ways. In a health care system that desperately needs improvement, our elected representatives have dealt their constituents a serious blow.
I ask that everyone who is or knows or cares about a Medicare patient to call our senators and tell them to take action by July 15. The number is (202) 224-3121. If you can't afford a long distance call, come to my office to make it. It's that important to our Medicare patients.
Cari Beth Page, M.D.
Page Family Practice, Inc.
Chattanooga