There’s an old saying; “Where there’s a will, there’s a way.” Unfortunately, when it came to addressing the broken Medicare physician payment system late last year, Congress had the way, in the form of the “Medicare Patient Access and Practice Stabilization Act,” but lacked the will to ensure its inclusion in the end-of-year spending package.
The direct result of this inaction by Congress led to another round of physician payment cuts, this time to the tune of 2.83% that went into effect on January 1, 2025, marking the fifth consecutive year that Medicare physician payment has been cut.
Urgent action needed – please contact your representative today to cosponsor the “Medicare Patient Access and Practice Stabilization Act (H.R. 879)!
Over the past two decades, Medicare payment rates have fallen by 33%, when adjusted for the cost of running a practice, leaving physicians struggling to figure out how they can continue to provide needed care to their elderly and chronically ill patients.
Everyone, including Congress, agrees that the Medicare physician payment model is hopelessly broken, and these yearly cuts are having a negative impact on physician practices while leaving patients’ access to care at risk. It’s time they finally do something about it!
Recently, Reps. Greg Murphy, MD (R-NC) and Jimmy Panetta (D-CA), along with a bipartisan group of legislators, re-introduced the “Medicare Patient Access and Practice Stabilization Act” (H.R. 879). This legislation, if passed, would, effective April 1st, prospectively cancel the 2.83% payment cut that went into effect on January 1, while also providing a 2.0% payment update, helping to stabilize physician practices and protect patients’ access to care.
The clock is ticking – the “continuing resolution” passed late last year is set to expire on March 14. Including H.R. 879 in the next spending package is the top priority!
That’s why it is so important that you contact your representative today and urge them to cosponsor “The Medicare Patient Access and Practice Stabilization Act” (H.R. 879)!
America’s patients and physicians are counting on Congress to provide this much needed relief and work toward achieving long-term Medicare physician payment reform.
