MMA Signs Letter to Congress to Fix Medicare Payment to Docs

September 29, 2022

The MMA joined the AMA and more than 120 national specialty and state medical associations in a letter to Congressional leaders urging them to work on long-term solutions to fix the Medicare physician payment system.  

"Instability is being driven by a confluence of fiscal uncertainties physician practices face related to statutory payment cuts, perennial lack of inflationary updates, significant administrative barriers, and the cumulative impact of the pandemic," said the letter sent September 22 to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy.  

An AMA analysis found that Medicare physician payment has been reduced by 20%, adjusted for inflation from 2001-2021. 

The letter goes on to urge Congress to do the following by the end of the year:   

• Provide relief from the scheduled -4.42 percent budget neutrality cut in Medicare physician fee schedule payments. 

• End the statutory annual freeze and provide a Medicare Economic Index (MEI) update for the coming year. 

• Extend the 5 percent Advanced Alternative Payment Model (AAPM) participation incentive and halt the impossible-to-meet revenue threshold increase for five years to encourage more physicians to transition from fee-for-service into APMs. 

• Waive the 4 percent PAYGO sequester triggered by passage of the American Rescue Plan Act. 

Read the full letter here.