Today the Digestive Health Physicians Association (DHPA) joined nearly 200 physician, patient and other advocacy organizations in signing a letter to the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) expressing concern about a set of recommendations that MedPAC is considering which, if adopted, would make it more challenging for physicians to offer medicines under Medicare Part B that are typically administered in their offices.
The letter was written by the Part B Access for Seniors and Physicians Coalition, and has garnered wide support among healthcare organizations. The recommendations under consideration by MedPAC would decrease program spending, thereby restricting access to medicines that are critical for patients living with serious conditions, including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.
These same concerns were the driving force behind DHPA’s advocacy efforts last year in successfully opposing the Obama Administration’s proposals that would have restricted patient access to Part B medications. The changes now being considered by MedPAC would have a similar, negative impact on patients in the name of cutting costs.
Click here to read the full letter.