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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Larry Bucshon MD (R-Ind)

U.S. Representative Larry Bucshon, M.D. (R-IN-08) released the following statement after joining U.S. Representative Greg Murphy, M.D. (R-NC-03) and other bipartisan cosponsors in introducing the Medicare Patient Access and Practice Stabilization Act to support physicians and protect access to care for Medicare beneficiaries earlier this week:

“All patients deserve timely access to healthcare from quality physicians in their communities,” said Dr. Bucshon. “Inadequate Medicare reimbursement threatens that access. I have long fought to correct the current trend of cutting reimbursement levels year after year, and I am proud to join my bipartisan colleagues to introduce the Medicare Patient Access and Practice Stabilization Act. The current path toward further consolidation, physician burnout, and closure of medical practices must be corrected.”

“America’s physicians are at a breaking point and access to high-quality, affordable care is at risk for millions of Medicare patients,” said Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D. “When a physician sees a Medicare patient, they do so out of the goodness of their heart, not because it makes financial sense. Medical inflation is much higher and the cost of seeing patients continues to rise. Unfortunately, reimbursements continue to decline, putting immense pressure on doctors to retire, close their practices, forgo seeing new Medicare patients, or seek a less efficient employment position. This bipartisan legislation would stop yet another year of reimbursement cuts, give them a slight inflationary adjustment, and protect Medicare for physicians and patients alike.”

“Medicare payments to physicians are just not keeping pace with our economic realities and the cost of care,” said Congressman Jimmy Panetta. “Our bipartisan legislation would not only prevent harmful cuts but also would adjust provider reimbursements for inflation.  Such a law would expand seniors’ access to quality healthcare by helping medical providers continue their care for Medicare beneficiaries.”

“Access to quality healthcare is a something every senior deserves, but declining Medicare reimbursement is putting that access at risk,” said Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks. “The bipartisan Medicare Patient Access and Practice Stabilization Act is crucial to reversing the damaging trend of cuts that threaten our healthcare providers, especially in underserved communities. We must act now to prevent further burnout and consolidation in our system, ensuring that every Medicare beneficiary receives the care they need and deserve.”

“Having an outdated Medicare reimbursement rate for physicians makes it harder for healthcare professionals to provide high-quality care, putting patients at risk,” said Congressman Ami Bera, M.D. “Physicians, unlike the rest of the players in health care, have never received an inflationary update and consistently received cuts. This bill ensures a more stable Medicare payment system, allowing providers to focus on delivering care rather than worrying about losing their practice. With this bipartisan effort, we are working toward a system that supports both patients and doctors.”

“Over the past 22 years, adjusting for inflation, physicians have essentially taken a 26% pay cut from Medicare,” said Congresswoman Kim Schrier, M.D. “Their reimbursement has been flat or declining, while overhead costs have increased by about 47%: rent, labor, equipment, and insurance. I cannot think of another profession whose compensation has dropped by 26% over 2 decades. Physicians have been holding their breath, year after year, hoping that Congress will act to avert these devastating decreases in reimbursement. Without adequate reimbursement, solo and small practice physicians—most often in rural or underserved areas—are already closing their doors.  It’s up to Congress to ensure that physicians are fairly compensated and can continue to practice, so that all Medicare patients have access to high-quality, affordable care, and I am proud to co-sponsor legislation that will achieve just that.”

“As a physician, I recognize that year after year cuts to Medicare reimbursement jeopardizes access to care for our nation’s seniors,” said Congressman John Joyce, M.D. “We must work in Congress to create a more sustainable long-term solution to ensure that Medicare patients continue to receive the high-quality affordable care that they deserve. While we continue this important work, I am proud to co-lead the Medicare Patient Access and Practice Stabilization Act, in order to protect access for Medicare beneficiaries and support Medicare physicians in the face of these proposed cuts.”

“As an emergency medicine physician, I know how important it is for families and individuals I serve to have access to the necessary health care services they rely on,” said Congressman Raul Ruiz M.D. “I am deeply concerned about the impact the outdated Medicare reimbursement rate has on health care access for my constituents. That is why I am co-leading the ‘Medicare Patient Access and Practice Stabilization Act’ that will move us away from a system where every year seniors’ access to essential care is threatened due to potential cuts.”

Background

In July 2024, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) proposed a rule that would decrease Medicare reimbursement for physician services by 2.8% beginning on January 1, 2025.  Compounded with CMS’ own estimates of a projected 3.6% increase in practice cost expenses for next year, physicians will be faced with an 6.4% cut unless Congress acts.

According to the American Medical Association, when adjusted for inflation, Medicare reimbursement for physician services has declined 29% from 2001 to 2024. 

Medicare reimbursement cuts for physicians have significant ripple effects across our health care system, particularly in rural and underserved areas.  

The decline in reimbursement rates, while wages and operational costs continue to rise, is forcing many physician practices to consider layoffs, reduced services, or office closure.  At a time when we’re facing a physician shortage and a historic number of doctors are nearing retirement age, these cuts risk accelerating physician burnout and reducing access to care for Medicare patients.

Supporting Organizations

Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Academy of Orthopaedic Physical Therapy, ADVION (formerly National Association for the Support of Long Term Care), Alliance for Headache Disorders Advocacy, Alliance for Physical Therapy Quality and Innovation, Alliance of Specialty Medicine, Alliance of Wound Care Stakeholders, Ambulatory Surgery Center Association, American Academy of Audiology, American Academy of Dermatology Association, American Academy of Family Physicians, American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine, American Academy of Neurology, American Academy of Ophthalmology, American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, American Academy of Pain Medicine, American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, American Academy of Sleep Medicine, American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases, American Association of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons, American Association of Neurological Surgeons, American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology, American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons, American Chiropractic Association, American Clinical Neurophysiology Society, American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, American College of Cardiology, American College of Chest Physicians, American College of Emergency Physicians, American College of Gastroenterology, American College of Mohs Surgery, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians, American College of Osteopathic Internists, American College of Physicians, American College of Radiation Oncology, American College of Radiology, American College of Rheumatology, American College of Surgeons, American Gastroenterological Association, American Geriatrics Society, American Glaucoma Society, American Health Care Association, American Medical Association, American Medical Group Association, American Medical Rehabilitation Providers Association, American Medical Women’s Association, American Occupational Therapy Association, American Optometric Association, American Osteopathic Association, American Physical Therapy Association, American Physical Therapy Association – Private Practice Section, American Podiatric Medical Association, American Psychiatric Association, American Psychological Association Services, American Society for Clinical Pathology, American Society for Dermatologic Surgery Association, American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, American Society for Radiation Oncology, American Society of Breast Surgeons, American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, American Society of Colon & Rectal Surgeons, American Society of Dermatopathology, American Society of Diagnostic and Interventional Nephrology, American Society of Echocardiography, American Society of Hand Therapists, American Society of Nuclear Cardiology, American Society of Pediatric Nephrology, American Society of Plastic Surgeons, American Society of Retina Specialists, American Society of Transplant Surgeons, American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, American Urogynecologic Society, American Urological Association, Association for Clinical Oncology , Association of American Medical Colleges, Association of Clinicians for the Underserved, Association of Diabetes Care & Education Specialists, Association of Women in Rheumatology, Brain Injury Association of America, California Medical Association, CardioVascular Coalition, Clinical Social Work Association, Coalition of State Rheumatology Organizations, College of American Pathologists, Community Oncology Alliance (COA), Congress of Neurological Surgeons, Dialysis Vascular Access Coalition, Digestive Health Physicians Association, Digestive Health Physicians Association, Emergency Department Practice Management Association, Endocrine Society, Federation of American Hospitals, Free2care, Healthcare Business Management Association, Heart Failure Society of America, Heart Rhythm Society, Indiana Associations Pathologists, Infectious Diseases Society of America, Infusion Providers Alliance, LUGPA, Massachusetts Medical Society, Medical Group Management Association, National Association of ACOs, National Association of Rehabilitation Providers and Agencies, National Association of Spine Specialists, National Infusion Center Association, National Rural Health Association, North Carolina Rheumatology Association, Office-Based Facility Organization, Outpatient Endovascular and Interventional Society, Pediatrix Medical Group, Inc., Physician-Led Healthcare for America, Physicians Advocacy Institute, Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medical Association, Practicing Physicians of America, Renal Physicians Association, Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions, Society for Vascular Surgery, Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons, Society of General Internal Medicine, Society of Gynecologic Oncology, Society of Hospital Medicine, Society of Interventional Radiology, Society of Thoracic Surgeons, Texas Medical Association, and the US Oncology Network.

View the legislation here.

Congressman Larry Bucshon, M.D. represents Indiana’s 8^th Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives and is a senior member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, serving as Vice Chair of the Health Subcommittee.

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