Current Medicare payment system on unsustainable path: Contact Congress

A man holding an example of a Medicare card.

Medicare physician payment reform

Contents

Take action now: Contact Congress
Medicare basics
The Physician Practice Information (PPI) Survey
Current system is unsustainable
Download Medicare payment graphics
Medicare provider updates for 2023
Medicare updates compared to inflation
Key measures of practice expense, Medicare Economic Index
Medicare spending per enrollee
Real (inflation-adjusted) Medicare physician spending per enrollee
Principles for Medicare physician payment reform
The AMA fights Medicare cuts
Essential Tools & Resources

The AMA is deeply alarmed about the growing financial instability of the Medicare physician payment system due to a confluence of fiscal uncertainties physician practices face related to the pandemic, statutory payment cuts, lack of inflationary updates and significant administrative burdens.

We need your help

Become a member and help the AMA fight to protect physician payment and patients’ access to care.

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Take action now: Contact your members of Congress

Tell Congress to support legislation that would reform the flawed Medicare physician payment system and provide annual inflationary updates. Use these materials in conversations with members of Congress to let them know the Medicare physician payment system needs reform to become a more sustainable, value-based system that better meets the needs of patients and physicians.

Learn about how you can take part in the fight to fix Medicare on behalf of your patients and practices at the AMA's Fix Medicare Now website.

Medicare basics

The AMA's Medicare Basics series provides an in-depth look at important elements of the Medicare physician payment system. Find more topics about the payment system and why it's in need of reform.

The Physician Practice Information (PPI) Survey

Learn about (PDF) a new national study being led by the AMA (and supported by 173 health care organizations) to collect representative data on physician practice expenses. The aim of the Physician Practice Information Survey (PDF) is to better understand the costs faced by today’s physician practices to support physician payment advocacy to policymakers.

Current system is unsustainable

The evidence is clear: The Medicare payment system is on an unsustainable path threatening patient access to physicians.

Download Medicare payment graphics

Download and print the charts to use for your advocacy efforts.

Medicare provider updates for 2023

Speak up for Medicare reform

The need for Medicare physician payment reform has never been greater. The AMA shows how the current system is unsustainable—and how you can urge Congress to support solutions.

Learn More

Medicare updates compared to inflation