After years of consecutive physician payment cuts, including a 2.8% cut scheduled to go into effect on January 1, it’s clear that the Medicare physician payment system  is hopelessly broken. Thankfully, Congress has started to take this threat to the future of physician practices and their patients seriously. 

Yesterday, California Representatives Jimmy Panetta, (D-CA-19), Ami Bera, M.D. (D-CA-6), Raul Ruiz, M.D. (D-CA-25) and their bipartisan counterparts Greg Murphy, M.D. (R-NC), Mariannette Miller-Meeks, M.D. (R-IA), Larry Bucshon, M.D. (R-IN), Kim Schrier, M.D. (D-WA) and John Joyce (R-PA) introduced the Medicare Patient Access and Practice Stabilization Act of 2024 to stabilize physician practices and improve patient access to care. 

Supported by the California Medical Association (CMA), the bill would stop an impending 2.8% Medicare physician payment cut  in 2025 and provide a partial inflation update – 50% of the Medicare Economic Index (MEI) for one year in 2025 – to help address inflationary increases in medical practice costs. Under HR 10073, the total Medicare physician payment increase for 2025 would be 4.73%.  

Take Action Today! 

There are precious few legislative days left before the end of the year, with Congress expected to conduct a "lame duck" session after the elections. This will be the last opportunity for Congress to pass HR 10073 as part of the final year-end package. 

That’s why it is so important that you contact your Representative and urge them to cosponsor "The Medicare Patient Access and Practice Stabilization Act (H.R. 10073) today!  

Due in large part to physician grassroots advocacy, an overwhelming 233 bipartisan Members of Congress recently signed a letter to House leadership urging them to stop the Medicare cut and provide an inflation update before year-end. CMA is asking for your help once again to get those 233 members to cosponsor the new bill as soon as possible. Physician action makes a difference. 

Please contact your representative today to stabilize practices and protect patient access to care. 

While this legislation would only address physician payment for 2025, it is a crucial first step in providing much needed relief and achieving our ultimate goal of long-term physician Medicare payment reform in the new Congress. 

Everyone agrees the Medicare physician payment system is broken, and it’s time for Congress to do something about it!