The Alliance Urges U.S. Super Committee to Address Specialty Care Issues

The Joint Committee on Deficit Reduction is a 12-Member bipartisan, bicameral joint committee, chaired by Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) and Rep Jeb Hensarling (R-TX). The “Super Committee” is one of the cornerstones of the Budget Control Act of 2011 (PL 112-25) designed to cut the deficit by $3 trillion during the next 10 years while extending the debt ceiling through the 2012 elections.

The Super Committee is tasked with developing a deficit reduction package which includes $1.5 trillion in cuts. House and Senate Committees of jurisdictions can provide input and must submit any recommendations to the Super Committee by October 14, 2011.

If the deficit reduction package is not approved by Congress by December 23, 2011, a trigger would enforce $1.2 trillion in automatic cuts distributed between defense and non-defense accounts. The automatic cuts to Medicare are capped at 2 percent, while Medicaid, Social Security and low incomes programs are exempt from the automatic cuts.

On September 8, 2011, the Heart Rhythm Society, as a member of the Alliance of Specialty Medicine, was a signatory on a letter to the Super Committee Members urging them to include in their recommendations:

• A permanent fix to the Medicare Physician payment formula — if Congress does not act prior to December 31, 2011, physicians will face an overall payment reduction of 29.5 percent
• Elimination of the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB)
• Enaction meaningful medical liability reform

Read the letter (PDF, 115K)

In addition, members of the Alliance will continue to meet with Super Committee Congressional staff to advocate for these three legislative priorities.