Reps. Ami Bera, MD, (D-Calif.) and Larry Bucshon, MD, (R-Ind.) sent a bipartisan Dear Colleague Letter on Oct. 14 urging House leadership to avoid looming cuts to Medicare physician payments.
The AAMC-supported letter, which was signed by over 245 bipartisan members of Congress, warns against the upcoming cuts to Medicare payments that would result with the calendar year 2021 Physician Fee Schedule rule payment cuts going into effect [refer to Washington Highlights, Dec. 23, 2020], the expiration of the current moratorium on the 2% Medicare sequester [refer to Washington Highlights, April 16], and the anticipated 4% Medicare sequester due to Congress’ use of the reconciliation process to pass the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (P.L. 117-2) [refer to Washington Highlights, March 19].
The combination of these cuts amounts to at least a 9% reduction in Medicare physician payment on Jan. 1, 2022. “These cuts will strain our health care system and jeopardize patient access to medically necessary services,” the letter states.