Congress has introduced two bills that would prevent cuts in Medicare payments to physicians in 2006 and 2007. Without congressional action, physicians will face a 4.3 percent cut in Medicare payments in 2006 and continued cuts over the next six years.

Senators Jon Kyl (R-AZ) and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) have introduced S.1081, the Preserving Patient Access to Physicians Act of 2005 (PDF), which would replace projected Medicare payment cuts with positive updates in each of the next two years.  The bill would provide an update of no less than 2.7% in 2006 and an update in 2007 that reflects physician practice cost inflation, which is expected to be about 2.6%. 

Representatives Clay Shaw (R-FL) and Ben Cardin (D-MD) have introduced the SGR fix bill (H.R. 2356) (PDF), which sets the Medicare physician payment update for 2006 at no less than 2.7% and, beginning in 2007, implements MedPAC's recommendation to replace the current SGR with updates based on inflation in physicians’ practice costs.

The Heart Rhythm Society has signed on to a letter urging Congress to co-sponsor the bill.  To view the letter sent to the Senate please click here.  To view the letter sent to the House of Representative please click here.