The California Medical Association (CMA) and AARP are calling on the U.S. House of Representatives to pass H.R. 3961, which would ease the difficulty seniors now face in finding a physician who accepts Medicare. The legislation would repeal Medicare's flawed payment structure, known as the Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR), and replace it with a stable foundation that would encourage physician participation.

"In many cases, a person's inability to find a doctor who accepts Medicare can result in dire health consequences," said AARP California State Director Tom Porter. "AARP believes that it is critical to reform the way Medicare payments are calculated to ensure that all Medicare patients have access to a physician. H.R. 3961 provides that needed reform…