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- CAP, 100+ Medical Societies Applaud Effort to Peg Medicare Pay to Inflation Index
The CAP and more than 100 other medical societies thanked congressional leaders in the House of Representatives for introducing a bill to adjust Medicare payment rates with an inflation-based index that will provide greater stability to physician practices. The CAP has worked with a strong coalition of physician- and other provider-based organizations to oppose Medicare cuts and strengthen the Medicare system.
On May 3, the coalition group sent a letter applauding the introduction of the Strengthening Medicare for Patients and Providers Act to Reps. Raul Ruiz, MD (D-CA), Larry Bucshon, MD (R-IN), Ami Bera (D-CA), and Mariannette Miller-Meeks, MD (R-IA). The bill, HR 2474, would utilize the Medicare Economic Index to provide the physician payment system with annual pay rate adjustments. Costs to operate a physician practice have gone up 47% since 2001, but Medicare payments to physicians have declined 26%, the representatives said.
Congress has enacted a series of short-term fixes to mitigate Medicare payment cuts to pathologists and other physicians in recent years and should continue to do so until permanent reforms can be enacted. Fortunately, HR 2474 gives lawmakers an opportunity to enact one payment reform measure that will guarantee payment rates keep pace with inflation and help maintain patient access to timely and quality care.
“Congress has a unique opportunity to adopt comprehensive, transformative reforms to the Medicare payment system and we applaud your leadership in introducing this legislation,” the letter said. “We look forward to working with Congress to ensure passage of HR 2474 and continue conversations around further payment reform to ensure America’s seniors continue to receive access to the high-quality care they deserve.”