Support the Medicare Patient Access and Practice Stabilization Act

By Jarrod Fowler, MHA, FMA Director of Health Care Policy and Innovation

Congress has finally released a bill – H.R. 879, the Medicare Patient Access and Practice Stabilization Act – that would put an end to the 2.83% Medicare physician payment cut that went into effect in January due to congressional inaction. H.R. 879 would end those cuts and institute a 2% payment increase to help offset some of the losses that physicians have incurred so far this year. As a top state for retirees and seniors, Florida needs this relief more than anyone so that physician practices can remain financially viable, and the state can attract and retain the medical talent it needs.

After adjusting for inflation, Medicare reimbursement rates have fallen more than 30% since the year 2000. This trajectory is unsustainable. H.R. 879 will not address the long-term issues associated with the failed Medicare payment system, which desperately needs to be overhauled. However, it will address the immediate problem posed by the harmful payment cut that took effect last month.

The FMA thanks Reps. Greg Murphy, MD (R-NC), Jimmy Panetta (D-CA), and the other cosponsors of this resolution. Please contact your representative today  and ask them to cosponsor the Medicare Patient Access and Practice Stabilization Act.