Right now lawmakers are seeking to finalize a budget “reconciliation” bill that includes a provision that could seriously harm people with disabilities. The bill would permit Medicare to “profile” or measure physicians based on their health care utilization. Physicians that spend less get a bonus. Those that spend more would be penalized. The provision provides a blank check to government. There are no patient protections.

Letters and calls are needed immediately to the following lawmakers. Attached is a sample letter. We need to convey that:

• We have serious concerns with the provision in the Senate reconciliation bill that would “profile” physicians and pay them based on their “efficiency.”
• The provision must be changed to include patient protections that will:
  • Assure that disabled patients and those with most severe illness aren’t deprived of the care they need because of cost
  • Protect the quality of care, not reduce it
  • Assure access to specialists
  • Assure access to the most advanced and best treatment
• Please reference the amendment advanced by Senators Coleman and Kennedy that address these issues.

Below is a sample letter and contact information. Please send to one or more of the lawmakers listed below.

The Honorable Saxby Chambliss (202-224-3521; 202-224-0103 fax)
Health Legislative Assistant: Monty Philpot (monty_philpot@chambliss.senate.gov)

The Honorable Mitch McConnell (202-224-2541; 202-224-2499 fax)
Health Legislative Assistant: Scott Raab (scott_raab@mcconnell.senate.gov)

The Honorable Charles Grassley (202-224-3744; 202-224-6020 fax)
Health Legislative Assistant: Kathy Nuebel Kovarik (Kathy_nuebel@grassley.senate.gov)

The Honorable Pete Domenici (202-224-6621; 202-228-3261 fax)
Health Legislative Assistant: Chris Collins (chris_collins@domenici.senate.gov)

The Honorable Bill Frist (202-224-3344; 202-228-1264 fax)
Health Legislative Assistant: Jennifer Romans (Jennifer_romans@frist.senate.gov)

The Honorable Michael Enzi (202-224-3424; 202-228-0359 fax)
Health Legislative Assistant: Stephen Northrup (Stephen_northrup@help.senate.gov)

The Honorable Arlen Specter (202-224-4254; 202-228-1229 fax)
Health Legislative Assistant: John Myers (john_myers@specter.senate.gov)

United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510

Attn: (Name of Health Legislative Assistant)

Dear Senator _____,

I am writing to urge you to fix the “efficiency” provisions in the Senate reconciliation bill, under the “Medicare Value-Based Purchasing Program for Physicians” provision.

Specifically, I am concerned that the language would provide the government a blank check to:

• Punish doctors financially who provide the best care, unless it is also the cheapest care
• Create a disincentive for physicians to treat the sickest patients—patients who have disabilities, multiple illnesses, or serious mental illness. No statistical risk adjustment system will remove all the hazards a doctor would face in caring for these patients.
• Establish a major barrier to the development and adoption of new technologies and procedures to cure disease, by judging the value of medical innovation solely on its short-term cost and not on its value.

Value-based purchasing should support quality care, not undermine it.

I greatly appreciate your attention to these significant concerns. To address these concerns, I ask that you consider making changes to the language during the conference committee negotiations similar to the changes suggested by the amendment filed by Senators Coleman and Kennedy.

Sincerely,