Greenville Reporter

Washington, D.C. - Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D. has introduced bipartisan legislation to prevent the implementation of full Medicare physician fee schedule cuts on January 1, 2024. The bill, known as the Preserving Seniors' Access to Physicians Act, aims to address the ongoing issue of inadequate reimbursement for physicians who serve Medicare patients.

In a statement, Congressman Murphy expressed his frustration with the current system, stating, "Washington spends a lot of time talking about protecting health care access for Medicare patients, yet year after year, makes it more difficult for doctors to take care of them." He emphasized the importance of adequately compensating physicians who serve Medicare patients, highlighting the fact that Medicare payments do not cover the cost of care.

"This bill takes action on a critical issue others refuse to do - pays physicians, who serve Medicare patients out of the goodness of their hearts, because Medicare payments simply don’t pay for the cost of care," Murphy said. "I am past done with the onslaught of cuts made by politicians and unelected bureaucrats who regard doctors and patients as little more than cogs in the wheels of health care. Sooner, rather than later, physicians are just going to stop taking Medicare. If you own the hardware store, why would you sell a hammer for a dollar when it costs you two dollars? Enough is enough. This is one more step towards fixing the broken Medicare system."

The bill has garnered bipartisan support, with co-leads including Rep. Danny Davis, Rep. Brad Wenstrup, Rep. Michael Burgess, Rep. Larry Bucshon, and Rep. Jimmy Panetta. The introduction of this legislation comes in response to a recent rule finalized by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) that would decrease Medicare reimbursement for physician services by 3.4% starting in 2024. When combined with projected increases in practice costs, physicians face an 8% cut unless Congress takes action.

The American Medical Association has highlighted the negative impact of consistent Medicare reimbursement cuts on physicians and the healthcare system as a whole. Adjusted for inflation, Medicare physician payment has declined by 26% from 2001 to 2023. These cuts not only affect physicians' ability to provide care to Medicare patients, but also pose a threat to the viability of physician practices, particularly in rural and underserved communities.

"When physicians no longer find it financially viable due to rates being slashed, wages increasing, or expenses going up, then there will be layoffs, services curtailed, and in some cases, physician offices closed," warned the American Medical Association. With a physician shortage and a record number of physicians nearing retirement age, the importance of ensuring physicians can continue to provide care to Medicare patients cannot be overstated.

The Preserving Seniors' Access to Physicians Act aims to address these issues and prevent further cuts to Medicare physician reimbursement. It represents a step towards fixing the broken Medicare system and ensuring that physicians can continue to serve Medicare patients without financial hardship.

For more information on the bill, please visit [link to the bill].

For additional details, please follow this link: https://murphy.house.gov/media/press-releases/murphy-introduces-legislation-prevent-medicare-physician-reimbursement-cuts