Congress' repeated failure to fix the flawed Medicare formula for updating physician payments will once again trigger a massive cut in Medicare physician reimbursement. The six‐month patch Congress passed is the fourth short‐term patch this year alone, following a series of short‐term patches over the years that have made the situation worse. On December 1, all physicians face a 23% reduction in Medicare physician payments, which increases to nearly 30% on January 1, 2011.

                        This flawed formula will continue slashing Medicare physician payments by more than 40% over the next decade, despite the fact that Medicare reimbursement rates are already well below market rates.

                        These deep cuts jeopardize the viability of our practice and our ability to provide you with high‐quality ophthalmology services.  Since the cuts apply to all physicians, they threaten your access to specialty care generally.

                        Congress has known this cut was coming for two years and has failed to stop the reduction or to enact a permanent solution to this flawed system.

                        As a Medicare patient, you are in serious danger of losing your access to specialty care. We may not be able to continue to treat Medicare patients if Congress doesn't act quickly to stop the cuts and repeal the formula that continues to produce them. Congress isn't going to act unless you do. Use this toll free number (1‐877‐373‐3517) to speak directly to your Senators and Representative today. Tell them to act now before it's too late.

                     "As a Medicare patient and constituent, I am outraged that Congress has not provided a long‐term solution to the flawed Medicare physician payment system, and I am in danger of losing access to my physician. This is unacceptable. I deserve to receive the care that I have been promised. Act now before it is too late. Fix the Medicare physician payment system once and for all. "

TO:  OUR MEDICARE PATIENTS

Your access to quality specialty care is in jeopardy. Despite the fact that Congress temporarily stopped the 21% cut in Medicare physician payments due to the flawed SGR Medicare physician payment formula, THE MEDICARE CRISIS IS HERE, AND YOU ARE IN SERIOUS DANGER OF LOSING YOUR ACCESS TO SPECIALTY CARE! We need your help now! Make your voice heard.

CALL 1‐877‐373‐3517 AND TELL CONGRESS TO ACT NOW BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE-FIX THE MEDICARE PHYSICIAN PAYMENT SYSTEM ONCE AND FOR ALL!

Clayton Grinage, COE