The House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee held an Oct. 19 legislative hearing titled “What’s the Prognosis?: Examining Medicare Proposals to Improve Patient Access to Care and Minimize Red Tape for Doctors.” The hearing featured consideration of over 20 health care bills, some of which would impact provider payments. Of particular interest to committee members were the perennial cuts to the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS), which have historically had to be mitigated by Congress to prevent drastic cuts to physician payments. Discussions also included proposals to modernize and strengthen the Medicare program, including ways to reform the PFS and cut back on abuse of prior authorization in the Medicare Advantage program.
- Washington Highlights