Action Alert: Lobby Supercommittee Members to Avoid Deep Cuts to GME
[Content from AAIM]
GME funding could be on the chopping block once again as Congress’s twelve member Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction (Super Committee), continues its deliberations to develop a formal recommendation by November 23 on how to reduce the deficit by at least $1.2 trillion over the next decade to avoid across-the-board automatic cuts in Medicare. AAIM is working closely with the American College of Physicians (ACP) to maximize our advocacy efforts in responding to threats to GME. The links to ACP’s Legislative Action Center will allow you to easily edit a template/letter to contact your representative or senator - this is especially important if you have a senator or representative on the Super Committee. Although they are being subjected to intense lobbying pressure, the Super Committee’s members will likely be receptive to hearing the concerns of constituents representing academic health centers in their districts.
For Medical Educators:
http://www.capwiz.com/acponline/issues/alert/?alertid=54345061&type=co
For Program Directors:
http://www.capwiz.com/acponline/issues/alert/?alertid=54495556&type=co
Background on GME and its Proposed Cuts
Medicare, a federally funded program, is the largest explicit financing source for GME. A report from the Congressional Budget Office to reduce the deficit suggests that $69.4 billion could be saved over the next ten years by consolidating and reducing GME payments. Earlier this year, the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform also proposed trimming GME. President Obama’s deficit reduction plan also includes a reduction in GME payments, though more modest at $9 billion.
Medicare subsidizes education and training for over 90,000 residents in more than 1,100 hospitals. GME costs are recognized by Medicare under two mechanisms: direct GME payments to hospitals for residents’ stipends, faculty salaries, administrative costs, and institutional overhead; and an indirect medical education (IME) adjustment developed to compensate teaching hospitals for the higher costs associated with teaching, the involvement of residents in patient care, and the severity of illness of patients who require the specialized services that are available in teaching hospitals. In 2009, Medicare expenses associated with GME were approximately $9.5 billion.
Any cuts to GME funding could jeopardize your training program and limit patient access to critical services. The nation is already facing a shortage of 44,000 - 46,000 primary care physicians for adults by 2025. Cuts to Medicare GME financing would only worsen this crisis. The demand for physician services will only increase as the population ages and more people obtain coverage through the Affordable Care Act, the 2010 health care reform bill.
Why Is This Important?
As someone involved in academic internal medicine, you will be directly impacted by cuts to GME funding as teaching hospitals may be forced to reduce their training programs or make other changes as a result. Using one of the links below, please urge your members of Congress to protect your training program’s ability to provide quality education by preserving and broadening GME funding and using it more strategically, so that you can continue to train tomorrow’s physicians. Click on the alert now.
For Medical Educators:
http://www.capwiz.com/acponline/issues/alert/?alertid=54345061&type=co
For Program Directors:
http://www.capwiz.com/acponline/issues/alert/?alertid=54495556&type=co