AMA President on Medicare Cost Cuts

" With positions facing 811%. Cut in Medicare payments something needs to be done to ensure proper care for seniors in the future. So says the president the American Medical Association doctor James Brown act is on Capitol Hill -- talk about this very issue. And he joins us now doctor good to see you. Bet they'll all that tenure fix though to prevent the reduction in payments to doctors. -- big almost 250 billion dollars do you think that ten year fix is financially feasible at this point."

" While the AMA is committed to making sure that seniors who are currently on Medicare. As well as -- care who our military families. Have access to physicians and we also know and two short years the baby boomers start to reach that Medicare program. So we believe that the prior budget gimmicks that have put band they've done this problem. Need to have permanent solution. And that's why we support senator's staff and house senate bill 1776. To provide stability and freedom for Americans on Medicare."

" Doctor what you're saying is about a decade ago congress moved to cut payments to physicians but every year it's been like AMT patch. Where it's been it's been prevented year after year you're looking for a longer term fix. But with 60% of all health care calls coming from provide earth from doctors and hospitals. Isn't cutting. Those payments at least part of the overall solution to bring down health care costs."

" Well this is one of the problems that you have with the Medicare program there's actually two buckets on hospitals and doctors. Part a is the hospital part B is the doctors and what's happened since 1997 when this formula when in. Is that we now can keep people out of the hospital by seeing them more often in the in the outpatient arena. Giving them screening mammograms and screening colon examinations to prevent. -- and then and -- breast cancer. But the problem with this formula is that causes the volume to increase on part B. And the cuts going and so the problem with the Medicare program. Is this silos that we have and that's the reason why senate bill 1776. Very important to get us back to a zero based line. Because all the savings that we've had keeping people out of the hospital. -- hasn't been accounted for and it's time to look at a new payment methodology. That really recognize what the true cost of providing good care for patients."

" It is but would you agree that at least some cuts to doctors or less. In payments is part of an overall solution to -- health care costs in this country."

" Well we believe that and we are committed is being made for. Health system reform and part of that health system reform is to get rid of those unnecessary costs. For example we know administrative waste that we have all the forms and paperwork we have to fill out. Is part of it but we also recognize that there are some tests that a doctor orders. To protect themselves in a courtroom. So defensive medicine costs or other things that we continue to work toward to say look at. We're committed as America's doctors that we want to have access for patients. So that they can be secure in knowing that they will have a position with a viable practice -- able to keep their office opened deceive them in the."

" Is why did doctors charge people without insurance. More than they pay to the insurance company why don't mention the people without insurance. Get hit with a higher bill usually see it when the bills show up and there any dead after and this why did doctors do that."

" Well this is part of the problem that we have when. The Medicare program says that you cannot charge. The Medicare program more than you do a private patient. And then the physician's signed the contract within ensure that requires you to. Provided discount off your fees so what the person who doesn't have health insurance sees it is the bill that the physician has to charge because of the law sets that up that way. They have -- doctor more time now well and I and I let me -- right. Well I was gonna mention I need to emphasize that people that don't have health insurance need to communicate with their position because many times. The position sends a bill. Because that's what the law says that the physicians willing to work with that patient to make sure that they can get something that's affordable for them. Doctor thank you for being here doctor James -- act president of the American Medical Association as you can say on Capitol Hill today."