Obamacare needs physician-friendly fixes

Our patients are confused, frustrated and scared. We hear the anxiety in their voices and see the tension in their eyes. They don't know what the future holds for healthcare as reform is rolled out. Our patients look to us for help. The mission of physicians as a profession, and specifically the Texas Medical Association, is to advocate for our patients. We take that role seriously.

The TMA is neither “red” nor “blue,” but is a truly nonpartisan “purple” professional organization, whose members advocate for our patients every day in the exam room and at every opportunity in our lobbying efforts. Every citizen represented by Congress is, at some time, a patient.

That's why, when Congress began debating healthcare reform in 2009, the TMA asked lawmakers in Congress to fix what's broken in our healthcare system, find what's missing and to keep what's good. Our demand remains the same today.

Specifically, we are asking Congress to take these critical steps soon. Congress must work together to develop real solutions that truly benefit patient care—to do nothing is to accept failure:

Repeal the farcical sustainable-growth rate formula. It is neither sustainable nor is it growth—in fact, it has reduced access for patients, with only 58% of Texas physicians accepting new Medicare patients.

Put the costly, clinically irrelevant ICD-10 on permanent hold until ICD-11 or another usable replacement system for ICD-9 is ready for widespread implementation.

Stop implementation of Medicare's “value-based purchasing” program, unless physicians who treat these populations are treated fairly. Protect physicians who care for chronically ill or noncompliant patients from quality-of-care measures that do not account for such variances in patient populations. Otherwise, these patients will lose access to care.

Pass the Medicare Patient Empowerment Act. Give physicians the ability to contract directly for any and all Medicare services. Repeal legislation that limits physician ownership of hospitals. There is no credible evidence of any change in utilization—only innuendo—and the quality of these facilities is routinely superior.

Repeal the czar-like Independent Payment Advisory Board. Keep Congress accountable for Medicare.

If lawmakers have the same concern for their constituents as we have for our patients, they will enact these measures.