American College of Rheumatology Endorses Strengthening Medicare for Patients and Providers Act
April 24, 2023 | Advocacy
Bipartisan Legislation Represents a Major Step Forward to Ensure Financial Stability for Specialty Providers; Preserve Patient Access to Needed Care
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) commended the introduction of the Strengthening Medicare for Patients and Providers Act (H.R. 2474), a bipartisan bill intended to update Medicare physician payments to reflect the impact of the broader economy on physician practices.
This legislation would allow Medicare to more accurately reflect the cost of practicing medicine, which has increased dramatically in recent years,” said Christina Downey, MD, chair of ACR’s Government Affairs Committee. “ACR looks forward to working to advance this important policy reform that will help build a sustainable payment system and protect access to care for patients with serious, chronic diseases.”
The legislation, 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), would adjust the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) based on inflationary updates measured by the Medicare Economic Index (MEI).
“For too long, specialty providers, like rheumatologists, have faced considerable uncertainty regarding their ability to continue providing needed care to patients,” said Douglas White, MD, PhD, president of the American College of Rheumatology. “The Strengthening Medicare for Patients and Providers Act represents a long-overdue adjustment to the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule that will help stabilize physician practices and ensure that beneficiaries have timely access to rheumatological care.”
The MPFS is the only major fee schedule without an automatic inflationary update. Consequently, Medicare provider reimbursement has failed to keep pace with broader economic realities. Recent analysis from the American Medical Association (AMA) demonstrates that when adjusted for inflation, Medicare physician payments declined 26% from 2001 to 2023, as consumer and practice costs rose.
Media Contact
Monica McDonald
mmcdonald@rheumatology.org
404-365-2162
###
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 8,500 physicians, health professionals, 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.