Protect Medicare patients and physician practices

We’ve been on the road fighting for Medicare physician payment reform for well over a decade, and the system remains on an unsustainable path. Temporary patches and ongoing cuts to the Medicare physician payment system have left physician practices and patient access to care at serious risk. Payment cuts, freezes and redistributions have further exacerbated the challenge, yet Congress and the administration are still not focused on fixing the root of the problem—the payment system itself. But it’s time for that to change. It's essential that leaders in Washington work with the physician community on immediate, preventative measures, as well as long-term solutions that will reform the payment model once and for all.

The Medicare physician payment system needs reform to better meet the needs of patients and physicians. The right solutions will encourage innovation, while enabling small and large practices across rural and urban areas to thrive. The AMA and the Federation of Medicine developed a set of principles to guide advocacy efforts on Medicare physician payment reform. Overall, a rational Medicare payment system would:

• Ensure financial stability and predictability.
• Promote value-based care.
• Safeguard access to high-quality care.

We need your help calling on Congress to take action! If passed, the Medicare Patient Access and Practice Stabilization Act (S. 1640) would temporarily reverse the 2.83% payment cut that went into effect on January 1 and provide physicians with a 2.0% payment update, helping to stabilize physician practices and protect patients’ access to care.

Contact your members of Congress and tell them to pass S. 1640 today.