The Honorable Ami Bera, MD
U.S. House of Representatives
172 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
The Honorable Larry Bucshon, MD
U.S. House of Representatives
2313 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington,
DC 20515
Dear Representatives Bera and Bucshon,
On behalf of the undersigned organizations, representing over one million physician and non‐physician health care clinicians, we applaud the introduction of H.R. 8800, the Supporting Medicare Providers Act of 2022. This critical legislation provides
a 4.42% positive adjustment to the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) conversion factor (CF) for CY2023, thereby mitigating payment cuts within the MPFS that are anticipated to take effect on January 1, 2023. We look forward to working with you
to ensure this legislation is enacted before the end of the year.
As you are aware, without Congressional action, the entire healthcare clinician community faces a cumulative payment reduction of approximately 8.5%, which includes both the CF changes, as well as a 4% Medicare cut stemming from the Statutory Pay‐As‐You‐Go
(PAYGO) Act. The 2% Medicare sequestration cuts that fully resumed earlier this year further exacerbates these payment reductions.
Additionally, the MPFS is the only payment system within Medicare without an annual inflationary update. This is particularly destabilizing as clinicians, many of whom are small business owners, contend with a wide range of shifting economic factors when
determining their ability to provide care to Medicare beneficiaries. According to an American Medical Association analysis of Medicare Trustees data, when adjusted for inflation, Medicare physician payments have declined by 22% from 2001–2021.
The long‐term consequence of failing to avert the cuts is less patient access to care. In fact, the 2021 Medicare Trustees Report expressed concern that, although the physician payment system put in place in 2015 avoided the significant short‐range physician
payment issues, it “nevertheless raises important long‐range concerns that will almost certainly need to be addressed by future legislation.” The Trustees further stated, “In addition, the law specifies the physician payment updates for all years
in the future, and these updates do not vary based on underlying economic conditions, nor are they expected to keep pace with the average rate of physician cost increases. Absent a change in the delivery system or level of update by subsequent legislation,
the Trustees expect access to Medicare‐participating physicians to become a significant issue in the long‐term.”
As a result, our organizations strongly support H.R. 8800 as an essential step toward providing clinicians with financial stability and ensuring patients have access to critical services our members provide. Moving forward, we reiterate our commitment
to working with you and your Congressional colleagues to identify and advance systemic Medicare payment reforms designed to ensure longer‐term stability for clinicians, promote and reward value‐based care, advance health equity and reduce disparities
within the Medicare system.
Thank you again for your leadership on this issue.
Sincerely,
Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
Academy of Orthopaedic Physical Therapy
Alliance for Physical Therapy Quality and Innovation
Alliance for Recovery Care
Alliance of Specialty Medicine
Ambulatory Surgery Center Association
American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology
American Academy of Dermatology Association
American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
American Academy of Family Physicians
American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine
American Academy of Neurology
American Academy of Ophthalmology
American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology
American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology
American Academy of Otolaryngology‐Head and Neck Surgery
American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
American Association of Neurological Surgeons
American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology
American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
American Association
of Orthopaedic Surgeons
American Chiropractic Association
American College of Cardiology
American College of Emergency Physicians
American College of Gastroenterology
American College of Mohs Surgery
American College
of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians
American College of Osteopathic Internists American College of Physicians
American College of Radiation Oncology
American College of Radiology
American College of Rheumatology
American College of Surgeons
American Gastroenterological Association
American Health Care Association
American Medical Association
American Medical Group Association
American Medical
Rehabilitation Providers Association
American Occupational Therapy Association
American Optometric Association
American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society
American Osteopathic Association
American Physical Therapy Association
American Podiatric Medical Association
American Psychiatric Association
American Psychological Association Services, Inc.
American Society for Dermatologic Surgery Association
American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy
American Society for Radiation Oncology
American Society for Surgery of the Hand
American Society of Anesthesiologists
American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery
American Society of Colon & Rectal Surgeons
American
Society of Diagnostic and Interventional Nephrology
American Society of Echocardiography
American Society of Hand Therapists
American Society of Nephrology
American Society of Neuroradiology
American Society of Nuclear Cardiology
American Society of Plastic Surgeons
American Society of Retina Specialists
American Society of Transplant Surgeons
American Speech‐Language‐Hearing Association
American Urogynecologic Society
American Urological Association
Association for Clinical Oncology
Association for Quality Imaging
Association of American Medical Colleges
Association of Black Cardiologists
Association of Freestanding Radiation Oncology Centers
Brain Injury Association
of America
California Medical Association
CardioVascular Coalition
Clinical Social Work Association
Coalition of State Rheumatology Organizations
College of American Pathologists
Congress of Neurological Surgeons
Dialysis
Vascular Access Coalition
Digestive Health Physicians Association
Emergency Department Practice Management Association
Heart Failure Society of America
Infectious Diseases Society of America
Large Urology Group Practice Association
Massachusetts Medical Society
Medical Device Manufacturers Association (MDMA)
Medical Group Management Association
Medical Society of the State of New York
National Association for the Support of Long Term Care
National Association
of Rehab Providers & Agencies
National Association of Spine Specialists
National Center for Assisted Living
Outpatient Endovascular and Interventional Society
Radiology Business Management Association
Renal Physicians Association
Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions
Society for Vascular Surgery
Society of Interventional Radiology
Society of NeuroInterventional Surgery
Texas Medical Association
The American Society of Breast Surgeons
The Society of Thoracic Surgeons
United Specialists for Patient Access
US Oncology Network
Washington State Medical Association
View a PDF version of this letter here.
