Patients First Act—supported by AMA, AAD, and MDS—provides crucial Medicare payment reform
On July 15, MDS and the AADA applauded the introduction of the bipartisan Patients First Act (PDF) aimed at Medicare physician reform. The legislation was developed over the past year through extensive consultation with the American Medical Association (AMA) and other physician organizations, and it aligns squarely with the Characteristics of a Rational Medicare Physician Payment System (PDF), the reform framework endorsed by more than 120 state medical associations and national medical specialty societies.
Ongoing Medicare cuts and unchecked inflation are threatening physician’s ability to keep practices open and provide crucial care to patients. The bill stops the year-to-year reimbursement formula established under 2015’s Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA) and modernizes the payment system by:
- Creating a permanent, inflation-based annual payment update tied to the Medicare Economic Index (MEI) minus 1%;
- Fixing the current budget neutrality rules; and
- Reforming MIPS to reduce administrative burdens and give physicians more input on quality measures.
The AADA’s press release said, “While it is true that this bill may not give dermatologists everything we want, it does include improvements to budget neutrality and a permanent, inflation-based payment update tied to a portion of MEI, which both work hand in hand to improve the sustainability of private practices.” It also helps ensure patients continue to have access to high-quality medical care. Without a more reliable payment system, physician practices struggle to invest in the staff, technology and resources needed to provide high-quality care for millions of patients. Here is a detailed article on the Patients First Act legislation.
Take Action!
Urge your congressional representatives to support the Patients First Act, which 1) stops the proposed 2027 Medicare conversion factor cuts, 2) passes legislative reforms, and 3) ties future annual payment updates to the inflationary measure. Medicare payment cuts threatens patient access and a physicians ability to provide patient care. Cuts make it harder for practices to stay open and destabilizes independent medical practices, forces industry consolidation, and widens care disparities in rural and underserved communities. The result is fewer providers, restricted services, and longer wait times for older adults.
Go to the Advocacy Action Center on the AMA’s website to send your Congressional representatives an email.
Do you want to call your Congressional representatives? Use the AADA Directory.