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Doctors Group's Ads Attack Wicker, Cochran Over Medicare Vote
WASHINGTON -- Sens. Roger Wicker and Thad Cochran are under attack from the American Medical Association for voting to block a bill that would have averted fee cuts for doctors who treat Medicare patients.
The AMA, the nation's largest doctors group, began running television and radio ads in Mississippi on Tuesday, the day the fee reductions took effect. They urged listeners and viewers to contact the two lawmakers' offices and ask them to change their votes.
"America stands on the brink of a Medicare meltdown unless action is taken," the AMA ads say.
The AMA says the 10.6 percent cut in fees will force many physicians to stop treating patients on Medicare, the government-run health-care program for the elderly. The bill would have eliminated the fee cuts for the doctors by instead reducing payments to insurance companies.