AMNews: July 20, 2009. Specialists balk at giving MedPAC regulatory power ... American Medical News

They cite Medicare patient access concerns as well as worries about giving power to unelected officials. By Chris Silva, AMNews staff. Several medical specialty organizations have urged key lawmakers not to pursue legislation that would give the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission authority to set Medicare rates instead of just advise Congress on them. The Alliance of Specialty Medicine said in a July 6 letter that a bill by Sen. John Rockefeller (D, W.Va.) to make MedPAC an independent executive agency would set a dangerous precedent. It would place too much control over health care decisions into the hands of a handful of unelected officials, said the 10 specialty organizations making up the alliance. Read More: AMNews: July 20, 2009. Specialists balk at giving MedPAC regulatory power ... American Medical News