The following statement is attributable to:
Bruce A. Scott, M.D.
President, American Medical Association
“CMS has announced that Medicare Advantage (MA) plans are expected to receive an average payment increase of 4.33% from 2025 to 2026. Meanwhile, physicians treating Medicare patients are facing their fifth consecutive year of payment cuts — this time by 2.8% — despite practice costs rising by 3.5% according to the Medicare Economic Index.
“So, while MA plans receive an increase beyond the expected health care inflation rate, Congress not only failed to provide a physician payment update but allowed a new round of cuts at the end of the lame duck. It's unbelievable they're giving insurance companies that had record profits an increase while at the same time cutting payment to physician practices that are struggling to survive. This contrast highlights the urgent need for Congress to prioritize linking payment to physician practices to the cost of providing care. Otherwise, with or without MA plans, patient access will suffer if physicians close their practices. A new Congress is meeting —it’s time for a new approach to physician payment reform.”
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About the American Medical Association
The American Medical Association is the physicians’ powerful ally in patient care. As the only medical association that convenes 190+ state and specialty medical societies and other critical stakeholders, the AMA represents physicians with a unified voice to all key players in health care. The AMA leverages its strength by removing the obstacles that interfere with patient care, leading the charge to prevent chronic disease and confront public health crises and, driving the future of medicine to tackle the biggest challenges in health care.
