AAOS issues letter to Congress on scheduled 2023 Medicare physician payment cuts
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The American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons has issued a letter urging Congress to pass two bills that would mitigate the Medicare physician pay cuts set to go into effect on Jan. 1, 2023, according to a press release.
The AAOS has asked Congress to pass the Supporting Medicare Providers Act of 2022 (H.R. 8800) and the Improving Seniors' Timely Access to Care Act (H.R. 3173/S. 3018), which has already passed the U.S. House of Representatives, according to the release.
H.R. 8800 would prevent an additional 4.47% cut to the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Conversation Factor for 2023. With increasing practice cuts and no adjustments for inflation, Medicare payments have dropped by 20% in the last 20 years, according to the release. These payment cuts could lead to hospital consolidation, limited patient access and other challenges for physician-run businesses, according to Felix H. “Buddy” Savoie III, MD, FAAOS, president of AAOS.
“These impending cuts and lack of inflationary update are simply not sustainable and continue to generate significant instability for physicians moving forward, threatening beneficiaries' timely access to essential health care services,” Savoie said in the release.
H.R. 3173/S. 3018, which has support from numerous co-sponsors and organizations, would address the flawed prior authorization process within Medicare Advantage, according to Savoie.
“While the prior authorization process is ostensibly intended to control costs, it can delay necessary medical care and negatively influence patient outcomes, consequentially creating a larger cost burden,” he said in the release.
“Our patients and physicians cannot wait until the next Congress for additional action,” Savoie concluded.
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