The Medicare physician payment system is becoming increasingly unstable, and pathologists are feeling the effects.
What’s happening: Outdated budget neutrality policies and payment methodologies are driving ongoing reimbursement uncertainty, putting pressure on independent practices and contributing to burnout across the profession.
What’s at stake:
- Financial instability is accelerating physician burnout and retirement.
- Independent practices are under increasing pressure.
- Patient access to care is at risk, especially in rural and underserved areas.
What’s being proposed: Lawmakers can help address these challenges by cosponsoring the Provider Reimbursement Stability Act of 2026 (H.R. 8163), which would:
- Update the decades-old budget neutrality threshold.
- Require the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to better account for real-world practice costs.
- Improve methods for correcting inaccurate billing code estimates.
- Help prevent dramatic year-to-year payment fluctuations.
Take action: Send an action alert and urge your representative to cosponsor H.R. 8163.