Faced with cuts in Medicare reimbursements, doctors represented by the Ohio State Medical Association have come out against H.R. 3962.
"The OSMA supports many of the goals of this bill," said OSMA President Roy Thomas, MD.
"However, the total proposal lacks many of the critical elements necessary for successfully reforming America's health care delivery system and strengthening the physician-patient relationship," Thomas continued.
The OSMA sent a letter to Ohio's congressional delegation with concerns about the Medicare payment formula.
On January 1, 2010, Medicare physician re-reimbursement are scheduled to be cut by 21.2%. The OSMA says that will be followed by projected cuts of 40% with H.R. 3962.
Neurologist Marvin Rorick, M.D. says the premiums insurance companies charge is what's really unsustainable.
"Physicians have not really participated in a parallel fashion. Their reimbursements have not gone up five or even 10% per year like private insurance companies have," said Rorick.
In addition, the OSMA says H.R. 3962 does not address federal medical liability reforms and expands enrollment in Medicaid.
The OSMA does support some provisions in the bill including the establishment of insurance exchanges and the elimination of coverage denials based on pre-existing conditions.
