Please Cosponsor the Medicare Patient Empowerment Act: My Medicare-My Choice

HR 1700 –Price (R-GA): CMA urges Congress to give Medicare seniors increased freedom to see the physician of their choice.  California seniors report difficulty finding physicians who are taking new Medicare patients.  This model would allow seniors to voluntarily enter into private contracts with a physician while retaining their Medicare coverage.  It would stipulate that Medicare pay for its fair share of the services and allow patients, who voluntarily agree, to pay the rest.  Under current law, seniors cannot apply their Medicare benefits to see physicians who are not participating in Medicare.  Moreover, physicians must opt-out of the Medicare program entirely for two years if they want to privately contract with seniors.  Under this legislation, more physicians could remain accessible to Medicare patients at no additional cost to the government.  This bill would not apply to Medicare-Medicaid dual eligible patients and services provided in urgent and emergency circumstances.