Take Action on Mcare Relief Now

Pennsylvania ACEP is working jointly with and supporting a Pennsylvania Medical Society plan to preserve access to care by extending the Mcare abatement program for 2008 and beyond, phase-out Mcare coverage in manageable increments, and retire the Fund’s unfunded liability.

Your state legislators will have 9 days to vote for Mcare relief. You have about two weeks to convince them to do it.

Mcare abatement, Mcare coverage phase-out, and retirement of the unfunded Mcare liability remained unresolved as legislators recessed for the summer. When they return to Harrisburg on Sept. 15 and 16, they will have only nine session days to act.

It's up to all of us to tell our legislators—face-to-face—why their "yes" vote for Mcare relief is critical to access to physician care. Visit your legislators in their home offices between today and Sept. 15.

Tell them that our plan for Mcare relief:

• Extends Mcare abatement, phases out Mcare coverage, and retires the Mcare unfunded liability to preserve access to health care in the commonwealth
• Requires no new taxes to fund these Mcare relief measures and is ready for a swift vote
• Does not condition Mcare relief on expanded coverage for the uninsured, but offers the opportunity to expand coverage using excess funds
• Is strongly supported by the health care community

Patient access must be preserved. Please stand up for your patients' access to physician care.

To take action:

• Find your legislators' local offices and contact information on Capwiz.
• Call today to schedule meetings with your senators and representatives before the week of Sept. 15.
• Let your county and the State Society know who and when you're visiting so we can coordinate visits for the most impact. Email the Society at McareNOW@pamedsoc.org, call (800) 228-7823, ext. 7812, or print out the fax back form at http://www.pamedsoc.org/McareNow
• Get talking points for your visit and read a special message from Peter S. Lund, MD, Pennsylvania Medical Society President at www.pamedsoc.org/McareNow.

• If you need additional information or if you would like some mentoring assistance, please contact the chapter office at 877-373-6272 or email director David Blunk at dblunk@pamedsoc.org