Capitol Chronicle: Fix Medicare Payment! North Carolina Dermatologists Take Message to Congress.
The American Academy of Dermatology Association held its 2024 Legislative Conference over the dates of September 8-10. The event drew attendees from across the country to add emphasis to the medical profession’s advocacy priorities. The top-of-list issue taken to Capitol Hill was Medicare physician payment reform. Specific messages included:
- Avert the 2.8% cut in Medicare physician payment scheduled for January 1, 2025.
- Enact legislation to update the Medicare physician payment structure that includes annual inflationary adjustment.
- Enact legislation to alleviate the obstacle presented by “budget neutrality” in setting Medicare physician reimbursement.
- Pass the Safe Step Act to relieve the inappropriate barriers to patients receiving the care they deserve.
Attendees included:
Shelley Cathcart, MD
Blue Ridge Dermatology Associates
Raleigh, NC
Kim Edhegard, II, MD
President-Elect / NC Dermatology Association
Foothills Family Dermatology
Morganton, NC
Dhwani Mehta, MD
Secretary-Treasurer / NC Dermatology Association
Dermatology Group of the Carolinas
Concord, NC
Alan Skipper, CAE
Vice President, External Affairs
NC Medical Society / Raleigh, NC
The group visited the offices of all 16 of North Carolina’s members of the US House and US Senate.
The day on Capitol Hill included a meeting with Rep./Dr. Greg Murphy
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