Physician members of the U.S. House are intensifying pressure to avert tens of millions in Medicare pay cuts to radiology and other specialties.
Reps. Ami Bera, Larry Bucshon, Raul Ruiz and Roger Marshall—all MDs—championed the letter to House leaders, addressed on Monday. In it, they called the matter “of great urgency,” highlighting substantial cuts set to hit the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule in 2021.
“In order to safeguard beneficiaries’ access to care during this pandemic, we as Congress should examine possible bipartisan solutions to address excessively steep cuts,” Bera and more than 200 cosigners wrote to House leaders Oct. 19. “We encourage you to incorporate the resulting policy changes in any upcoming legislation moving through the House. Healthcare professionals across the spectrum are reeling from the effects of the COVID-19 emergency as they continue to serve patients during this global pandemic.”
There has been a flurry of activity on this front in recent weeks, with the American College of Radiology, Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging and Radiology Business Management Association all writing their own letters. The latter also surveyed its members, estimating that the Medicare reductions could compel 50% of providers to reduce staffing.
In response, Rep. Michael Burgess, MD, R-Texas, introduced bipartisan legislation to temporarily waive budget neutrality requirements for a year.
ACR highlighted Monday’s letter in a news update to its members, praising physician lawmakers for keeping the topic front-and-center.
“The 40,000-member ACR looks forward to working with Congress, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and other medical societies to make necessary Medicare adjustments that preserve access to care for America’s seniors. We thank these congressional leaders for advancing this crucial effort,” Howard Fleishon, MD, chair of the college’s board of chancellors, said in a statement.
Marty Stempniak has covered healthcare since 2012, with his byline appearing in the American Hospital Association's member magazine, Modern Healthcare and McKnight's. Prior to that, he wrote about village government and local business for his hometown newspaper in Oak Park, Illinois. He won a Peter Lisagor and Gold EXCEL awards in 2017 for his coverage of the opioid epidemic.