The lone Republican to vote for the House bill to end Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) mechanism in the Medicare payment formula last fall was Rep. Michael Burgess, MD (R-Texas). On March 3, the OB/GYN from North Texas spoke to attendees at the AMA's National Advocacy Conference in Washington. Burgess voted with his fellow physicians, and not his Republican colleagues, the day the SGR bill passed House, he says.

He didn't vote with Democrats, either. The House bill killing the SGR created by Democrats is not a great bill, Burgess says. The bill creates two payment systems -- one for specialties and another for primary care -- with separate conversion factors. The bill would create two SGR cuts over time, he said. But that's only if the bill is ever taken up and passed in the Senate.

Burgess prefers his own bill H.R. 3693, Ensuring the Future Physician Workforce Act of 2009. The bill eliminates the SGR over a two-year period and uses economic data to keep payments in line with increasing practice costs.

There's no doubt Burgess will vote against the current health care reform bill. For reforms that he will support, check out Dr. Burgess' Prescriptions for Health Care Reform.