In a letter to members of the American Society of Anesthesiologists, President Alexander Hannenberg said the ASA leadership is encouraging its members to speak out against the current healthcare reform bills and reconciliation bill, due to a “closed, flawed process” and to the “failure of Congress and the White House to address important concerns raised by the physician community.”
Dr. Hannenberg noted in the letter that the decision to speak against the reform process was a “reluctant” one, but came with “no regret.” He said one of the reasons for the ASA’s lack of confidence in the process was a lack of transparency and clarity in what is in the current bills due to actions to move “shell bills” through the Congress.
The ASA was also disappointed in the inability of Congress to address the Medicare SGR formula, which may lead to further payment cuts for physicians. Dr. Hanneberg said in the letter, “ASA believes that the bills currently under consideration advance multiple provisions that marginalize physicians. As an example, H.R. 3590 finances its reforms largely on the backs of the physician community.”
Dr. Hannenberg praised the efforts made by anesthesiologists in the health reform debate thus far, and encouraged members to contact their representatives in Congress.
Read the letter about the ASA’s problems with healthcare reform bills.
