Provider groups and congressional allies are lobbying vigorously to prevent a wave of Medicare payment cuts in the face of inflationary price hikes, The Washington Post reported Dec. 9.
"I am not here to negotiate," AMA President Jack Resneck, Jr., MD, told the outlet of his recent visits to Capitol Hill. "I'm here to be very clear that no cuts are acceptable at this time."
The reductions in question include a nearly 4.5 percent Medicare reimbursement cut for some providers and an across-the-board cut of up to 4 percent for hospital and physician Medicare payments, the report said. Also on the chopping block: a 5 percent bonus provision that incentivizes providers to enroll in a Medicare payment innovation program.
Those cutbacks would kick in next year.
Bicameral, bipartisan groups as well as the GOP Doctors Caucus are rallying lawmakers to block the cuts, the report said. In stark contrast, the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission told Congress in January that such cuts are reasonable and would not hinder access to care.