The Society Joins in Urging Congress to Stabilize Medicare Physician Payment System

Last week the Society—along with the American Medical Association and over 100 national and state medical societies—joined together in writing a letter urging congressional leaders to stabilize the Medicare physician payment system. In 2023, physician payment rates are scheduled to be cut by 4.42%. “The Medicare physician payment system lacks an adequate annual physician payment update, unlike those that apply to other Medicare provider payments,” the letter stated. The groups strongly urged Congress to:

• Provide relief from the scheduled -4.42% budget neutrality cut in Medicare physician fee schedule payments.
• End the statutory annual freeze and provide a Medicare Economic Index (MEI) update for the coming year.
• Extend the 5% Advanced Alternative Payment Model (AAPM) participation incentive and halt the impossible-to-meet revenue threshold increase for five years to encourage more physicians to transition from fee-for-service into APMs.
• Waive the 4% PAYGO sequester triggered by the passage of the American Rescue Plan Act.

Earlier this month, Reps. Ami Bera (D-CA) and Larry Buschon (R-IN) introduced the Supporting Medicare Providers Act of 2022. The bill would stop the 4.42% budget neutrality cuts, ensuring physician payments remain stable for next year. Click here to tell your congressional representatives to pass H.R. 8800, the Supporting Medicare Providers Act.