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AMA, medical societies urge Congress to stall 2% cut in Medicare payments
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The American Medical Association and more than 100 additional medical societies urged Congress to pass legislation that would forestall a 2% cut in Medicare physician payments.
The 2% payment cut is included in the Budget Control Act’s sequestration provision. The cut also stems from the sustainable growth rate (SGR), a key factor in annual Medicare payment updates.
“Physicians are committed to delivery and payment reform in the Medicare program, but we need stability in the Medicare system as we work to promote high quality, high value, better coordinated patient care,” Jeremy A. Lazarus, MD, AMA president, said in a news release issued today. “The sequestration cut, coupled with uncertainty surrounding the looming 27% cut in payments to physicians who treat Medicare patients on Jan. 1, will hurt patient access to care and impede practice investments by physicians that are needed to improve our health care system.”
In mid-February, a joint House-Senate conference committee forged a tentative agreement to delay a 27.4% Medicare physician payment cut. The cut is scheduled to take effect Jan. 1 unless Congress intervenes.
The AMA has repeatedly called for the SGR to be amended or repealed.