September 13, 2022
The California Medical Association (CMA) applauds the bipartisan introduction of the “Supporting Medicare Providers Act of 2022” (HR 8800) by doctor Congressmen Ami Bera, M.D., (D-CA) and Larry Bucshon, M.D. (R-IN). Due to a confluence of statutory and price range neutrality fee cuts, physicians face greater than 8.42% in Medicare fee cuts in 2021. This invoice would cease 4.42% of the cuts associated to price range neutrality changes in the Medicare Fee Schedule.
“CMA appreciates Congressmen Bera and Bucshon for taking action to stabilize the Medicare program for physicians and patients. By preventing the harmful 2023 payment cuts, this important legislation will shore-up physician practices still recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic and protect patient access to physician care, particularly in underserved communities,” stated CMA President Robert E. Wailes, M.D. The invoice additionally contains a necessary dedication to long-term Medicare fee reform to assist physicians transfer to value-based care fashions to safeguard well timed entry to care and enhance well being fairness.
Since 2001, inflation has elevated by 40%, but doctor Medicare funds have solely elevated by 7%, in accordance to the Medicare Trustees Report information. While hospital and nursing house funds are listed to inflation (and because of this have elevated by 60% since 2001), the damaged doctor fee system not covers doctor prices to present care and function a medical apply.
Physicians can not maintain their practices and entry to care for patients on right now’s Medicare funds.
In a current CMA survey, 76% of California physicians reported that Medicare not covers their prices to present care. A majority of California physicians are nearing retirement – 34% are over age 60 and 50% are over age 50 –and many are citing insufficient Medicare funds as a major purpose they plan to retire early. CMA survey information additionally discovered that 41% of physicians say they’re contemplating closing their practices to new Medicare patients. In a number of city California communities, there are NO major care physicians accepting new Medicare patients. And 82% of physicians say they’re seeing patients with extra complicated medical circumstances as a result of care has been delayed due to decreased entry to physicians.
California patients are going through severe entry to care challenges and California is projected to have one of many largest doctor shortages in the nation over the following decade. Congress should reverse these tendencies to assist patients get the care they want.
CMA urges Members of Congress to cosponsor the “Supporting Medicare Provider Act of 2022.”