The American Hospital Association along with eight other national hospital organizations have sent a letter to senators asking them to support legislation that would replace the sustainable growth rate formula.
The purpose of the legislation, H.R. 2, is to provide a solution to physician payment rate issues that have plagued the healthcare industry for 20 years. The bill already passed in the U.S. House with a vote of 392-37.
"For too long, the annual effort of 'patching' the SGR has resulted in postponement of a sustainable and predictable remedy, escalating the budgetary cost of an eventual solution and resulting in significant and damaging Medicare and Medicaid cuts to hospitals," the groups wrote in the letter.
The groups acknowledged the legislation is not perfect. However, they said "it provides a balanced approach to addressing the SGR."
CMS recently released a report identifying some of its long-term concerns with H.R. 2.
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