With physicians facing Medicare cuts, AMA and others urge Congress to act

The American Medical Association—along with all 50 state medical societies and 76 other health organizations—have written (PDF) congressional leaders urging them to pass legislation vital to the sustainability of physician practices. Facing yet another cut in Medicare payments, physicians are urging Congress to pass legislation that has been introduced and has wide support within the physician community.

The letter focuses on four key pillars:

1. Enacting an annual, permanent inflationary payment update in Medicare that is tied to the Medicare Economic Index (H.R. 2474);
2. Budget neutrality reforms (H.R. 6371);
3. An overhaul of the Merit-based Incentive Payment System; and
4. Modifications to Alternative Payment Models (S. 3503/H.R. 5013).

“The current Medicare Physician Payment System is increasingly unsustainable and the necessary policy reforms can no longer be delayed without severe repercussions for patient access and quality of care,” the letter says. “The foundational component of strengthening the current payment system is refining the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule to accurately reflect the fiscal and clinical realities of medical practice today.”

This letter comes as Congress leaves for its summer recess while the AMA continues its sustained lobbying and grassroots campaign to ensure physicians receive Medicare reimbursement reflective of the costs of providing care rather than another round of damaging cuts.

The entire letter can be found here (PDF).