Statement from the Medical Society of the State of New York re: PPACA Decision

WESTBURY, NY (06/28/2012)(readMedia)-- Dr. Robert J. Hughes, President of the Medical Society of the State of New York, commenting on today's Supreme Court's support of PPACA said,

"Now that the decision has been reached by the Supreme Court, it is time for Congress and the President to put aside partisan differences to work together to fix the many flaws of the PPACA law that have been identified by the many physicians who opposed the law as well as the many physicians who supported many of its provisions, to better assure that the goal of law is met – assuring patients can receive timely quality health care from the physician of their choice. Some of these essential reforms include:

  • enactment of comprehensive lawsuit abuse reform;
  • preservation of Medicare access for seniors including long term Medicare physician payment stability and permitting patients to privately contract with physicians not participating in the Medicare program;
  • repeal of the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB) to prevent rationing of care;
  • enactment of antitrust reform to permit independently practicing physicians to collectively negotiate with health insurance companies so as to preserve the right of physicians to advocate for their patients against market-dominant insurers;
  • expanding the use of health savings accounts as a means to provide health insurance coverage."

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