PLEASE take a couple of minutes and respond to the below Urgent Action
Alert.
Merla
Dr. M. Arnold, PhD, RN
Licensed Psychologist - Registered Nurse
Psychological Services, Behavioral Health
Counseling, Consultation and Education
Focused on the Needs of Older Adults
Western Suffolk/Eastern Nassau Counties, LI, NY
Long Term Care Settings
(631) 271-9863
"It is unwise to be too sure of one's own wisdom.
It is healthy to be reminded that the strongest might weaken
and the wisest might err." Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948)
"It is better to know the patient who has the disease than it is to know the disease which the patient has."
Hippocrates (460 BC - 377 BC)
> Cook, Jeff wrote:
>> X Urgent
>> X Action Required
>>
>> APA Practice Organization Action Alert
>>
>> Date: November 16, 2009
>> To: SPTA and Division Federal Advocacy Coordinators APAGS Coordinators
>> From: Marilyn Richmond, J.D., Assistant Executive Director for
>> Government Relations
>> American Psychological Association Practice Organization
>> Cc: Katherine Nordal, Ph.D., Executive Director for Professional
>> Practice
>> SPTA Executive Directors
>> SPTA Directors of Professional Affairs
>> CAPP
>> Re: Help Block SGR Medicare Cuts!
>>
>> This week the House may vote on the Medicare Physician Payment Reform
>> Act of 2009 (H.R. 3961), which would permanently replace the
>> Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) and prevent the scheduled 21.2% cut to
>> Medicare provider payments from taking effect in 2010. Instead, the
>> bill would provide a 1% update for providers in 2010 followed by
>> regular inflationary adjustments in future years.
>>
>> The SGR is part of a formula that determines each year if Medicare
>> reimbursements will increase or decrease from the year before. For
>> the last seven years, the proposed reimbursement rate has dropped;
>> every year Congress has taken action to stop the cut from taking
>> effect. The Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act
>> (MIPPA) of 2008 postponed the cut until January 1, 2010. The SGR
>> formula has created an untenable situation for Medicare patients,
>> providers and the system as a whole, in which every year we must
>> collectively fight an automatic cut in Medicare payment rates.
>> Your Representative needs to hear from you TODAY to pass H.R. 3961.
>>
>> Targets:
>>
>> All U.S. Representatives
>>
>> Action:
>>
>> Click here
>> <http://www.capwiz.com/apapractice/issues/alert/?alertid=14353656&type=CO>
>> to urge your Representative to pass H.R. 3961
>>
>> If you are not able to reach the Legislative Action Center from the
>> above link, please visit
>> http://www.capwiz.com/apapractice/issues/alert/?alertid=14353656&type=CO
>> <http://www.capwiz.com/apapractice/issues/alert/?alertid=14353656&type=CO>
>> .
>> Grassroots feedback is extremely important to our advocacy efforts,
>> so we would very much appreciate it if you would e-mail
>> (jcook@apa.org <mailto:jcook@apa.org> ) or fax (202-336-5797) us any
>> responses you receive from your Senators or Representative.
>>
>> Message:
>>
>> I am writing as a psychologist and constituent to urge you to pass
>> H.R. 3961, the Medicare Physician Payment Reform Act of 2009.
>> Congress must take action to prevent the 21.2% cut to provider
>> payments scheduled for 2010 and should permanently replace the
>> Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) formula. The SGR formula has created
>> an untenable situation for Medicare patients, providers and the
>> system as a whole, in which every year we must collectively fight an
>> automatic cut in Medicare payment rates. Medicare beneficiaries, who
>> have paid into the program for years, must maintain access to high
>> quality mental health services. The continuing threat of SGR cuts
>> puts this important entitlement at risk and must be addressed this year.
>>
>> Please pass H.R. 3961. Thank you for your time and consideration.
>>
>> Jeff Cook, J.D.
>> Director of Field & State Operations
>> American Psychological Association Practice Organization
>> 750 First Street, NE
>> Washington, DC 20002
>> (202) 336-5875 (Office)
>> (202) 336-5797 (Fax)
>> jcook@apa.org (Email)
