FMA Leaders Head to D.C.
By Jarrod Fowler, MHA
FMA Director of Health Care Policy and Innovation | Updated March 17, 2022
In recent years, the FMA has taken several steps to enhance our presence in the federal political arena where a significant and increasing amount of important healthcare policymaking is taking place. This week, FMA physician leaders and senior staff traveled to Washington, D.C. to discuss the urgent need to make the Medicare system more sustainable. Physician leaders present included FMA President Douglas Murphy, M.D., FMA Immediate Past President Michael Patete, M.D., and AMA Delegation Chair Corey Howard, M.D. FMA Staff present include General Counsel Jeff Scott and Chief Operating Officer Matt Crowley.
The top three concerns discussed with lawmakers include, but are not limited to:
- Making the Medicare program more sustainable by providing annual payment updates that keep pace with inflation and eliminating the penalties associated with MIPS.
- Educating lawmakers on the need to additionally address budget neutrality under the Medicare program, which can result in wild, significant, and unpredictable swings in income for various specialists under the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule.
- To help stop a series of additional Medicare payment cuts totaling 9%, which will require Congressional action this year to avoid.
These meetings will include a bipartisan group of 8 to 10 lawmakers from Florida’s congressional delegation and will take place over a two-day period. It is our sincere hope that these meetings will help us prevent another round of cuts to physician practices while building momentum for broader, systemic changes to Medicare.
Talking notes
Additional Looming Cuts EMS
Medicare Physician Fee Schedule
Budget Neutrality