Legislation introduced to eliminate Medicare physician payment cuts
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Key takeaways:
- U.S. Rep. Greg F. Murphy, MD, R-N.C., has introduced legislation that would eliminate a planned cut to Medicare physician payments starting in January 2024.
- The legislation has five co-sponsors.
U.S. Rep. Greg F. Murphy, MD, R-N.C., has introduced legislation that would eliminate a planned 3%-plus cut in Medicare physician payments starting Jan. 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,” Murphy, a practicing urologist, said in a press release. “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,” Murphy said. “Sooner, rather than later, physicians are just going to stop taking Medicare. ... This is one more step towards fixing the broken Medicare system.”
The bill, Preserving Seniors' Access to Physicians Act of 2023 (H.R. 6683), would prevent the full 3.4% Medicare physician fee schedule cut from being implemented. The legislation is co-sponsored by Rep. Danny Davis, D-Ill.; Rep. Brad Wenstrup, DPM, R-Ohio; Rep. Michael Burgess, MD, D-Texas; Rep. Larry Bucshon, MD, R-Ind. and Rep. Jimmy Panetta, D-Calif.
In November, CMS finalized a rule that decreases Medicare reimbursement for physician services by 3.4% beginning Jan. 1, 2024. The cut to physician payments was compounded “with CMS’ own estimates of a projected 4.6% increase in practice cost expenses,” meaning that “physicians will be faced with an 8% cut unless Congress acts,” according to the release.
“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,” according to the release. “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,” according to the release.
The bill has been referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, according to the release.
Reference:
H.R.6683 — 118th Congress (2023-2024). https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/6683/all-actions?overview=closed&s=1&r=1&q=%7B%22search%22%3A%22hr6683%22%7D#tabs. Published Dec. 7, 2023. Accessed Dec. 13, 2023.
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