An Open Letter to Senator John McCain .....Arizona Republic, Valley & State, Page B3-June 11, 2010
Dear Senator McCain,
I am spending nearly $3000 of my own money in hopes of you receiving, and finally responding to this message. After several weeks of trying .to reach you through your office, it seems that it's time to go around it. I
I am a practicing Arizona physician, and for the third time this .year, I am contending with a 21 % decrease in reimbursement from Medicare. Additionally, again for the third time this year, my practice is facing a cash flow crisis because all Medicare payments are being held while you and your colleagues work on yet another temporary, last minute "fix" to a problem that has existed for a decade. . .
While members of your staff have offered cliche assurances, claiming that, "The Senator is well aware of your concerns,' I 'know that this cannot be true, for if it were, there is no way you would have allowed this colossal failure to persist. •
Recognizing that, a few weeks ago I decided to do what Americans are supposed to do. I tried contacting you, my Senator, so that I could help you to understand the realities of this issue. As of today, you still are not taking my call. And while this particular issue is certainly of great personal importance,. it is not the only reason I have been trying to reach you.
Senator McCain: I am genuinely concerned about. the future of our nation: From the political perspective, this country is a mess, and you should be embarrassed to know that politicians have lost the trust of the citizens whom they were elected to represent. Even if another temporary fix is passed by the time you read this, there will remain a disconnection between you and I, and the sooner you return my call, the sooner we can begin working to correct it.
I will eagerly await your response,
Mark J. Rubin, MD
Diplomate, American Board of Anesthesiology
Diplomate, American Board of Pain Medicine
Medical Director, Arizona Center for Pain Relief
,azpainmd@yahoo.com .