AMA, 61 healthcare organizations ask Congress for four Medicare reforms

CHICAGO-An AMA-led coalition of healthcare organizations urged Congress today to include four key policies to protect patients' access to care by supporting physician practices in any year-end legislative package.

In a letter (PDF) to congressional leaders, the groups warn that Medicare physician payment has fallen approximately 33% since 2001 when adjusted for inflation in practice costs. This widening gap jeopardizes patients' access to care and practice sustainability. They are calling on Congress to:

• Extend the 2.5% physician payment update through 2027 to help narrow the widening gap between payment updates and rising practice costs.
• Enact the bipartisan Provider Reimbursement Stability Act (H.R. 8163/S. 5180) to prevent permanent payment cuts when CMS overestimates changes in service use.
• Delay the Medicare physician fee schedule's modifier 25 payment reduction for one year, a recent regulatory decision that threatens independent, office-based practices.
• Cap Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) penalties at 2% and require timely, actionable performance data so physicians can improve care rather than face penalties based on outdated information.

"Medicare patients need access to physicians, and physicians need a payment system that works. Congress has an opportunity to protect access to care and give physician practices the stability they need to keep serving Medicare patients," said AMA President Willie Underwood III, MD, MSc, MPH. "These four reforms are practical, bipartisan steps Congress can take now to strengthen Medicare and protect patients."

These measures would provide near-term stability while also advancing key reforms to pave the way towards predictable, inflation-based Medicare physician payment updates.

The letter and the list of supporting organizations can be found here (PDF).