Washington, D.C. – Texas Medical Association (TMA) yesterday announced its “strong support” of legislation to repeal and replace the Sustainable Growth Rate, which was authored by Rep. Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (R-TX) and will be voted on in the House today.

TMA, a group representing more than 47,000 physicians and medical students, in a letter commended Burgess for getting “closer to solving this challenging issue than ever before.” They added, “Perhaps more than anyone in Congress, you understand the frustration and anxiety that the ongoing SGR uncertainly creates for practicing physicians.”

Burgess’ SGR bill has the support of every member of the Texas delegation on the House Committees on Energy and Commerce and Ways and Means. It currently has 118 cosponsors and is supported by more than 750 organizations.

The full text of the letter from TMA is below.

March 13

The Honorable Michael C. Burgess, M.D.
U.S. House of Representatives
2336 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515

Dear Representative Burgess,

On behalf of the 47,000-plus physician and medical student members of the Texas Medical Association, I am writing to reiterate our strong support for the work you have done to effectuate the repeal of Medicare’s Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) formula. In conjunction with your Texas colleague, Kevin Brady, you have gotten closer to solving this challenging issue than ever before. And you have done so with the support of every member of the Texas delegation, both Democratic and Republican, on the Energy and Commerce and Ways & Means Committees.

Perhaps more than anyone in Congress, you understand the frustration and anxiety that the ongoing SGR uncertainty creates for practicing physicians. You have worked tirelessly to craft a piece of legislation that not only repeals the SGR immediately, but also guarantees positive updates for physicians for five years, removes potential causes of liability against physicians, and eliminates some unnecessary bureaucratic red tape that prevents physicians from concentrating on patient care.

We especially appreciate your ongoing consultation and dialogue with TMA and Texas physicians throughout the process.

As you know well, the SGR Repeal and Medical Provider Payment Modernization Act of 2014 has made it this far because of a bipartisan, bicameral agreement on the need to replace the SGR. We are committed to helping you finish the task.

Sincerely,

Stephen L. Brotherton, M.D.
President

Cc: Texas Delegation

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