North Carolina Physicians Take to the Hill!

 

To help set the stage for the anticipated year-end push to get federal health policy issues across the finish line in Congress, a contingent from North Carolina traveled to Capitol Hill last week to help build urgency around key, pending bills.  Their Hill visits were part of the Alliance of Specialty Medicine’s advocacy conference, which drew participation from across the country.

The group included . . .

  • Eileen Raynor, MD – Pediatric Otolaryngologist / Duke
    President / NC Medical Society
  • Lynn Damitz, MD – Plastic Surgeon / UNC-Chapel Hill
  • Geoffrey Rose, MD – Cardiologist / Atrium
  • W. Alan Skipper, CAE – NC Medical Society

 

The group visited all of our Senate and House offices to address legislation of great consequence to North Carolina physicians and practices.  The most urgent message delivered was that Congress needs to act now to avert another cut in Medicare physician payment.  A 2.8% payment cut is on the 2025 horizon, which would come on the heels of successive annual cuts for the past four years.  When adjusted for inflation, physicians have seen a 29% cut in Medicare payment since 2021, while practice expenses have continued to rise.

Legislation specifically addressed in meetings with congressional offices include:

Medicare Physician Payment Reform

  • H.R. 6545 – the Physician Fee Schedule Update and Improvements Act
  • H.R. 2474, the Strengthening Medicare for Patients and Providers Act
  • H.R. 6371, the Provider Reimbursement Stability Act

Utilization Management – Prior Authorization

  • S.4532, Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care
  • H.R.8702, Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care

Utilization Management – Step Therapy

Workforce

  • S. 1302 – the Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act
  • H.R. 2389 – the Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act

The NCMS continues to engage with state and national partners to advance our congressional advocacy agenda, especially Medicare payment reform.  Presently, our topline issue is the pending 2.8% Medicare payment cut that looms for the coming year.  You can help that effort!  Please reach out to your members of the Senate and House using the American Medical Association’s portal.

 

Your engagement matters.

Do you know your state and federal legislators? More importantly, do your legislators know you?
The NCMS can help you connect with policy makers as a constituent and advocate!