Senators urge action on physician payment cut before end of lame duck session
With three weeks remaining in the legislative calendar, 41 senators have signed a letter to Senate leaders.
Photo: Michael Duva/Getty Images
With only three weeks left in the legislative calendar, 41 senators have signed a letter urging Senate leaders to prevent the 2.8% physician pay cut scheduled to go into effect on January 1.
The bipartisan effort was led by Sens. John Boozman, R-Ark. and Peter Welch, D-Vt.
"These continued payment cuts undermine the ability of independent clinical practices – especially in rural and underserved areas – to care for their communities," the letter said.
WHY THIS MATTERS
The Senate letter follows a similar November 15 letter from the American Medical Association (AMA) and 127 other state medical associations and national medical societies asking Congress to act before the end of the legislative year on Friday, December 20.
The letter to congressional leaders also urges Congress to provide a positive payment update for 2025. All 50 state medical societies – and D.C.-- as well as 77 national medical societies signed.
Earlier, a bipartisan coalition of 233 House members signed a Dear Colleague that called for a legislative fix to the cut and a payment update to reflect inflationary pressures, the AMA said.
THE LARGER TREND
Each year, congressional intervention is needed to prevent the payment cuts from taking effect.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services finalized the proposed 2.8% payment cut for physicians in its 2025 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule final rule. CMS said payment factors are specified by law.
A bipartisan bill introduced in the House in late October would stop Medicare payment cuts from going into effect in 2025. The Medicare Patient Access and Practice Stabilization Act would provide a 4.7% payment update in 2025 and eliminate the 2.8% Medicare physician payment cut that is slated for January 1.
No action has been taken on the bill since it was introduced in the House and referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce and the Committee on Ways and Means, on October 29.
Email the writer: SMorse@himss.org
