Introduction
At the recent Medical Group Management Association (MGMA) meeting in San Antonio, Texas, Medscape Business of Medicine Executive Editor Leslie Kane was able to get some time with Jeremy A. Lazarus, MD, President of the American Medical Association (AMA). Dr. Lazarus talked about some of the key issues affecting physicians.
Medscape: The future of the Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) is a critical issue. This is a huge problem for physicians, although it seems that the public in general isn't very concerned. What do you think is going to happen?
Jeremy Lazarus, MD
Dr. Lazarus: The SGR is not only a problem for physicians. There is a reason it should be of concern to patients and consumers. Our information is that 1 out of every 4 seniors has trouble accessing a primary care physician because more physicians are not taking Medicare patients; and 1 in 5 physicians is limiting the number of Medicare patients they take.
The reason the SGR repeal hasn't had massive public impact as a crisis splash is that doctors haven't, as a whole, suddenly stopped taking Medicare patients; it's been a very slow and steady decrease.
But there has been bipartisan support to repeal the SGR. There are very few in Congress who don't support the repeal of the SGR.
