Fighting to mitigate Medicare cuts

Medicare physician payment is facing a crisis. Over the last 20 years, payment updates have not kept pace with rising costs, and when accounting for inflation, physicians have seen a greater than 20% decrease in payments over this period. Additionally, physicians face the threat of additional cuts in 2024 unless Congress acts.

Advocating to avert the cuts is the Academy’s number one legislative priority this year.

Earlier this spring, as a member of the Medicare Physician Payment Coalition, which represents over 100 physician and other stakeholder groups, we thanked Reps. Raul Ruiz, MD (D-CA), Larry Bucshon, MD (R-IN), Ami Bera, MD (D-CA), and Mariannette Miller-Meeks, MD (R-IA), for introducing H.R. 2474, the Strengthening Medicare for Patients and Providers Act, which would provide an inflationary update under the Medicare physician fee schedule tied to the Medicare Economic Index beginning in 2024. The legislation would relieve physicians and ensure financial stability and predictability for their practices.

In a recent letter, the AADA expressed support for this crucial piece of legislation, and also signed on to an American Medical Association (AMA)-led joint physician organization letter supporting the bill. The AADA strongly advocates for long-term Medicare reform that includes a positive inflationary adjustment for Medicare physician payments, and H.R. 2474 is a direct result of this advocacy. Including the AADA and AMA, the letter was signed by 120 national and state medical and specialty organizations.