In a win for Pennsylvania physicians, the House Insurance Committee voted down a bill that would have reduced Mcare premiums by 20 percent for physicians who implement total quality management (TQM) programs but actually would have cost physicians more.
Three Democrats—James Casorio Jr. (D-Westmoreland), Josh Shapiro (D-Montgomery), and Matthew Smith (D-Allegheny)—joined nine of the committee’s Republicans to oppose the bill, defeating it by a narrow margin.
A letter sent by Pennsylvania Medical Society President James A. Goodyear, MD, was key in securing these votes against the bill.
The Pennsylvania Medical Society (PAMED) opposed House Bill 246 since it would actually have cost physicians more money.
There was no funding source for HB 246, and in order to make up the 20 percent discounts, the Mcare Fund would have to increase assessments on physicians, including those who receive the discount and those without the resources to create a TQM program.
“Since only hospitals and large health care systems have the resources to qualify, physician practices will incur devastating assessment increases to pay for the discounts earned by large providers,” Dr. Goodyear said in the letter.