TMA NEWS ADVISORY - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 1, 2010
News Conference: TMA, Houston Physician Leaders to
Launch Medicare Petition Drive to Congress
One of Seven April 5 “Medicare Meltdown” Events Statewide
- WHAT: News conference at which Texas Medical Association (TMA) and Houston physician leaders will unveil an open letter and launch a petition drive urging Congress to fix the gaping wound in Medicare’s foundation. Texas physicians and patients are asking Congress to preserve Medicare patients’ access to their physicians.
- WHEN: Monday, April 5, Noon
- WHERE: Plaza Medical Center, 1200 Benz, Suite #700, Houston
- WHO: TMA President William H. Fleming III, MD; Harris County Medical Society President William S. Gilmer, MD; and local patients
- WHY: Medicare, the backbone of America’s health system, is fractured. The physician payment system is flawed, and for 10 years, Congress has agreed we need a permanent solution, but thus far has been able to produce only temporary “Band-Aids.” Physicians love their Medicare patients and want to continue to care for them. However, on April 1, Medicare cut physicians’ payments by more than 21 percent. A cut this large harms the ability of Texas’ 2.5 million senior citizens, Texans with disabilities, and 850,000 military families to access medical care. Doctors, patients, and local U.S. congressmen and women are uniting with pens and purpose ― to sign a petition seeking a permanent solution to stop the Medicare Meltdown. TMA will deliver the petitions and letters to Congress in Washington, D.C.
Reporters, please join us as we ask Congress to stop the Medicare Meltdown so all Medicare patients have access to a doctor and doctors have access to their patients.
TMA is the largest state medical society in the nation, representing nearly 45,000 physician and medical student members. It is located in Austin and has 120 component county medical societies around the state. TMA’s key objective since 1853 is to improve the health of all Texans.
HCMS is the largest county medical society in the nation, with a membership of nearly 11,000 physicians and medical students. Its mission is to be the leading advocate for its member physicians, their patients and the community, in promoting the highest standards of ethical medical practice, access to quality medical care, medical education, research, and community health.
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Contact: Jennifer Snyder (713) 524-4267, ext. 244; e-mail: jennifer_snyder@hcms.org
Pam Udall (512) 370-1382; cell: (512) 413-6807; e-mail: pam.udall@texmed.org
Brent Annear (512) 370-1381; cell: (512) 656-7320; e-mail: brent.annear@texmed.org