Murphy Leads Bipartisan Opposition to Medicare Physician Payment Cuts on House Floor

Washington, D.C. — Last night, Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D. led a bipartisan coalition in opposing the 3.37% cut to the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule on the House floor. 

On January 1, 2024, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) implemented a rule that would decrease Medicare reimbursement for physician services by 3.37%. Compounded with CMS’ own estimates of a projected 4.6% increase in practice cost expenses this year, physicians are facing an 8% cut unless Congress acts. The resounding, bipartisan message heard on the floor was that access for Medicare patients is being destroyed.

It’s estimated that more than 83 million people in the U.S. currently live in areas without sufficient access to a Primary Care Physician. Since 2001, physicians who see Medicare patients have already seen their reimbursements decline by over 26% when adjusted for inflation. With the country already experiencing a severe doctor shortage, this will further accelerate retirements and burnout, especially for surgeons.

Murphy introduced legislation, the Preserving Seniors' Access to Physicians Act, a bipartisan measure to address the full Medicare physician fee schedule cuts.

Participants: Reps. John Joyce, M.D. (R-PA), Michael Burgess, M.D. (R-TX), Brad Wenstrup, D.P.M. (R-OH), Jimmy Panetta (D-CA), Ami Bera, M.D. (D-CA), Kim Schrier, M.D. (D-WA), Rich McCormick, M.D. (R-GA), and Diana Harshbarger, Pharm.D. (R-TN).

View his remarks here