Murphy Introduces Legislation to Prevent Medicare Physician Reimbursement Cuts
Washington, D.C. — Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D. has introduced legislation, the Preserving Seniors' Access to Physicians Act, a bipartisan measure to prevent the full Medicare physician fee schedule cuts from being implemented on January 1, 2024.
"Washington spends a lot of time talking about protecting health care access for Medicare patients, yet year after year, makes it more difficult for doctors to take care of them," said Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D. "This bill takes action on a critical issue others refuse to do - pays physicians, who serve Medicare patients out of the goodness of their hearts, because Medicare payments simply don’t pay for the cost of care. I am past done with the onslaught of cuts made by politicians and unelected bureaucrats who regard doctors and patients as little more than cogs in the wheels of health care. Sooner, rather than later, physicians are just going to stop taking Medicare. If you own the hardware store, why would you sell a hammer for a dollar when it costs you two dollars? Enough is enough. This is one more step towards fixing the broken Medicare system."
Co-Leads:
Rep. Danny Davis (IL-07), Rep. Brad Wenstrup, D.P.M. (OH-02), Rep. Michael Burgess, M.D. (TX-26), Rep. Larry Bucshon, M.D. (IN-08), Rep. Jimmy Panetta (CA-19).
Background
In November 2023, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) finalized a rule that would decrease Medicare reimbursement for physician services by 3.4% beginning on January 1, 2024. Compounded with CMS’ own estimates of a projected 4.6% increase in practice cost expenses for next year, physicians will be faced with an 8% cut unless Congress acts.
According to the American Medical Association, when adjusted for inflation, Medicare physician payment has already declined 26% from 2001 to 2023.
Consistent Medicare reimbursement cuts to physicians have negative secondary and tertiary implications for our health care system. It also threatens the viability, particularly of physician practices in rural and underserved communities, to continue seeing new Medicare patients.
When physicians no longer find it financially viable due to rates being slashed, wages increasing, or expenses going up, then there will be layoffs, services curtailed, and in some cases, physician offices closed.
Amidst a physician shortage and a record number of physicians nearing retirement age, now is no time to drive physicians toward retirement or not providing care to Medicare patients
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