Congress has introduced H.R. 879, known as the Medicare Patient Access and Practice Stabilization Act, which aims to reverse a 2.83% cut in Medicare physician payments that began in January. The bill proposes ending these cuts and providing a 2% payment increase to help physicians recover some of their financial losses from earlier in the year.
Supporters argue that this measure is especially important for Florida, given its large population of retirees and seniors who rely on Medicare services. They say the increase would help ensure physician practices remain financially stable and support efforts to attract and retain medical professionals in the state.
Medicare reimbursement rates have declined by more than 30% since 2000 when adjusted for inflation. Advocates note that while H.R. 879 does not address all underlying issues with the current Medicare payment system, it is intended to provide immediate relief from recent reductions.
The Florida Medical Association expressed appreciation for lawmakers backing the bill. “The FMA thanks Reps. Greg Murphy, MD (R-NC), Jimmy Panetta (D-CA), and the other cosponsors of this resolution. Please contact your representative today and ask them to cosponsor the Medicare Patient Access and Practice Stabilization Act,” according to an FMA statement.
