In a letter to congressional leaders March 15, the AMA said it is “deeply concerned” with MedPAC’s “flawed analyses that would imperil patient access to high-quality care.”
The AMA said that throughout the pandemic, physicians have been faced with statutory payment cuts, consistent lack of inflationary updates and significant administrative barriers. It also pointed to the nearly 8 percent payment increase CMS is projecting for Medicare Advantage plans in 2023.
The AMA is urging Congress to work with physicians directly to solve issues surrounding the Medicare physician payment system. At a minimum, it wants Congress to establish an annual Medicare physician payment update that keeps pace with inflation and practice costs.
