NCMS Capitol Chronicle - Disastrous 3.4% Medicare Physician Payment Cut is Looming

On November 2, 2023, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released their final rule for the 2024 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule. Under the rule, physician payment will be cut starting January 1, 2024, by 3.4% unless Congress intervenes. This cut would follow on the heels of a 2% cut in 2023.

Averting the disastrous payment cut is unfinished business for the year, but there is still time for Congress to act to stop the reduction before Medicare processes the first claims for 2024. Congress has until January 19, 2024 to take action to avoid the next government shutdown and we need to impress upon our Senate and House members the urgency of resolving the Medicare cut in those deliberations.

Representative Greg Murphy MD has paved the way for Congress to take the necessary action by introducing H.R. 6683 the Preserving Seniors’ Access to Physicians Act. This legislation, with the support of both Democrats and Republicans, would eliminate the scheduled 3.4% physician payment cut and presents Congress with model language that can be incorporated into their appropriations package to meet next month’s government funding deadline.

The NCMS and our state and national partners have collectively engaged to impress upon Congress the need to fix the Medicare cut and protect patients’ access to care.  We joined the AMA and 120 state and national medical/specialty societies in a joint letter to congressional leaders urging them to take action to avert the 3.4%% cut and fix Medicare’s systemic problems.

Now we need you to add your voice to this effort by using the AMA’s platform for connecting with your members of Congress.  Please take a minute and send your message today.  Every voice makes a difference.

Thank you.

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!