Doctors begin TV ads pressing Congress on Medicare
WASHINGTON — The American Medical Association is launching a coast-to-coast TV ad campaign to press Congress to approve higher payments for doctors treating Medicare patients.
The doctors group announced the ads Thursday, a day after Democrats agreed to push a $247 billion bill through the Senate next week averting scheduled cuts in physicians’ Medicare fees over the next decade. A 21 percent reduction is scheduled for January, with other cuts in subsequent years.
The ad, which the AMA said would cost seven figures, says the bill will “protect seniors’ access to quality care” and urges people to contact their senators to tell them to vote for it. Restoring the money has long been a top priority for doctors’ lobbyists.
The spots will run in 12 states with wavering senators of both parties, including North Carolina, Florida and Alaska, and in Washington, D.C.
The measure will require 60 votes to pass the Senate to overcome delaying tactics by opponents. The bill, which also needs House approval, would be paid for with federal borrowing, which has provoked opposition from many Republicans and some deficit-conscious Democrats.
Majority Leader Harry Reid set a test vote for next week on the legislation.
Republican leaders promised stiff resistance to the bill, which is part of the Obama administration’s attempt to enact a sweeping health care overhaul, and there was opposition from Democratic deficit hawks, as well.
Opponents said the planned increase in doctor payments, $247 billion over a decade, should be accompanied by other provisions to make sure deficits don’t rise.
“This is so transparent. They’re taking this issue out of health care, suggesting that we spend a quarter of a trillion dollars, not pay for it, so that they can then argue, the very next week potentially, that this trillion-dollar health care bill is paid for,” said Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the GOP leader in the Senate.
McConnell seemed to hint at a potential way out of the showdown — a bill raising doctor fees for a shorter period of time, that did not raise deficits.
Meanwhile, two people familiar with a meeting Wednesday among top Senate Democrats, administration officials and members of several doctors’ organizations said Reid told physicians at the session to “back off” on another priority — curbing lawsuits for medical malpractice.
Reid, D-Nev., told the doctors the liability issue was causing divisions and complicating Democrats’ efforts to pass health care overhaul legislation. Trial lawyers, another influential lobby, strongly oppose limits on medical liability.
The two spoke on condition of anonymity because the meeting was private. Neither attended the session, but each was given a description by people who had.
Reid spokesman Jim Manley said he had no information on the meeting.
AP Special Correspondent David Espo contributed to this report.
(This version CORRECTS contributor.)
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