Preventing a 23% Medicare physician payment cut is one of several major tasks Congress faces when members return Nov. 15. The American Medical Association and dozens of other medical societies are reminding lawmakers that stopping the reduction before it takes effect on Dec. 1 is crucial to keeping Medicare sustainable.

The AMA, 65 national medical societies, and 24 state societies sent a letter to Congress on Sept. 29 asking members to stabilize Medicare physician pay, at least through 2011. Congress adopted short-term delays of the cuts several times in 2010, including once after contractors for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services began to process Medicare claims with the cuts.

Bruce Werber DPM, FACFASInMotion Foot & Ankle SpecialistsAssociate Professor Midwestern UniversityInMotion Foot and Ankle Specialists10900 N. Scottsdale Road Suite 604Scottsdale, AZ 85254office phone 480 948-2111inmotionfootandankle@gmail.comwww.inmotionfootandankle.com