Fiscal Cliff Deal of No Help to Patients or Physicians

"The Medicare SGR cut is one of those promised spending cuts that never occurs. Each year the proposed cut grows larger, and each year it is postponed after a ritual game of ‘Chicken’ between Congress and the AMA. The AMA states, correctly, that many physicians could not afford to take care of Medicare beneficiaries if their fees were cut. In fact, a 30% cut in fees means a much larger cut in pay because the fee has to cover overhead."