Growth Rate formula and establish a fair Medicare payment system. In December 2012, we will go through this charade again with the real danger that CMS will stop payments to doctors in early 2013 while Congress “fixes the problem.” While we’re at it, we must convince
Congress to repeal the Independent Payment Advisory Board, an unelected board created by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The board’s only option is to cut Medicare payments to physicians. Of course, hanging over all of us is
the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. At this writing, we don’t know what the outcome of legal challenge to the constitutionality of the bill might be. Legal experts differ on what the Supreme Court will decide. But if the bill survives, TMA will continue to help physicians adjust to the new reality of practicing medicine. We know the Pa- tient Protection and Affordable Care Act is unaffordable, and the “exchanges” it creates, with their middle class entitle- ment program, are not fully funded. The legendary baseball pitcher Satch-
el Paige once advised, “Don’t look back. Something might be gaining on you.” Well, something is gaining on us. It’s the people who want to put themselves be- tween us and our patients. We cannot let this happen. What we do in 2012 will affect medical practice for years. It was a great honor for me to serve
as your president during the past year. I know that with our new president, Dr. Speer, at the helm, 2012 will be another great year for our association. I pledge to continue to help as much as I am needed. n
28 TEXAS MEDICINE June 2012
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