American College of Rheumatology Commends Legislation to Address Harmful Medicare Payment Cuts to Physicians

ATLANTA – The American College of Rheumatology (ACR) today applauded the bipartisan introduction of the Medicare Patient Access and Practice Stabilization Act of 2025, legislation to fully offset the harmful 2.8% cut in the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS). The bill, led by Representatives Greg Murphy, MD (R-NC) and Jimmy Panetta (D-CA), includes an additional 2% payment update to physician services furnished after April 1 of this year.

“Increased inflation coupled with chronically low Medicare reimbursement rates threatens patient access to care – especially for rural and underserved populations,” said Carol Langford, MD, MHS, president of the ACR. “If not addressed, the current cuts will destabilize the healthcare system and make it more difficult for rheumatologists to deliver essential care to patients nationwide.”

In addition to Representatives Murphy and Panetta, original cosponsors of the bill included Reps. Ami Bera, MD (D-CA), John Joyce, MD (R-PA), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), Mariannette Miller-Meeks, MD (R-IA), Carol Miller (R-WV), Raul Ruiz, MD (D-CA), Kim Schrier, MD (D-WA), and Claudia Tenney (R-NY), as cosponsors.

“After years of successive cuts, it is clear the Medicare payment system cannot function effectively in its current state and physicians—like rheumatologists—and patients are the ones suffering the most,” Langford concluded. “We hope congressional leadership will work to swiftly pass this important legislation to safeguard our healthcare system as soon as possible.”

Media Contact
Monica McDonald
mmcdonald@rheumatology.org

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About the American College of Rheumatology
Founded in 1934, the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) is a not-for-profit, professional association committed to advancing the specialty of rheumatology that serves nearly 10,000 physicians, health professionals, researchers and scientists worldwide. In doing so, the ACR offers education, research, advocacy and practice management support to help its members continue their innovative work and provide quality patient care. Rheumatology professionals are experts in the diagnosis, management and treatment of more than 100 different types of arthritis and rheumatic diseases.