A bipartisan House bill has been introduced that would tie the Medicare fee schedule to the Medicare Economic Index, creating an annual inflation-based update.
The bill was introduced by Reps. Raul Ruiz, M.D. (D-CA), Larry Bucshon, M.D. (R-IN), Ami Bera, M.D. (D-CA), and Mariannette Miller-Meeks, M.D. (R-IA).
According to the American Medical Association, physician payment rates have been subject to a six-year payment freeze that will last until 2026, and even experienced 2% across-the-board cuts in January. In that time, physicians had to deal with inflation, COVID-19, burnout, and the rising cost of running a practice. When the freeze ends, the statutory update for most physicians will be limited to 0.25% indefinitely, far below even normal rates of inflation.
“This toxic brew threatens health care access for Medicare patients,” said AMA President Jack Resneck Jr., M.D., in a statement. “It’s no coincidence that the bill sponsors are physicians. They know the challenges physicians face.”