RPA, ASN, join medical societies in asking Congress to reduce impact of Medicare pay cuts
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The Renal Physicians Association, the American Society of Nephrology and more than 100 other medical groups have sent a letter to Congress asking legislators to limit the impact of a planned cut in Medicare payments to physicians.
Changes in the final rule for the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) call for a 4.5% reduction in payments starting Jan. 1.
The letter asks lawmakers to “prevent the entire 4.5% reduction to Medicare payment rates from being implemented on January 1, 2023. This desperately needed relief will help provide financial stability for practices until permanent payment reforms are established,” according to the letter, sent to Nancy Pelosi, speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives; Charles Schumer, majority leader of the U.S. Senate; Kevin McCarthy, U.S. House minority leader; and Mitch McConnell, U.S. Senate minority leader.
The letter said medical practices throughout the country are experiencing significant inflationary pressures along with the planned reduction in payments. “Since the MPFS is the only payment system within Medicare lacking an annual inflationary update, clinicians, many of whom are small business owners, contend with a wide range of shifting economic factors — such as staff salaries, building rent, and purchase of essential technology — when determining their ability to provide care to Medicare beneficiaries,” according to the letter. “We cannot overstate the importance of Congress stopping the entirety of the upcoming 4.5% reduction.
“Anything less will result in an across-the-board cut that will further exacerbate the significant financial hardship clinicians are already facing and undermine Medicare’s ability to deliver on its promises to seniors and future generations,” according to the letter.
In addition to the RPA and ASN, associations that signed the letter included the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American College of Cardiology, the American College of Physicians and the AMA.
Reference:
- https://cdn.ymaws.com/www.renalmd.org/resource/resmgr/2022/congressional_communications/eoy_cf_coalition_letter_fina.pdf. Accessed Dec. 7, 2022.
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