The American Society of Anesthesiologists has sent a letter to Congress urging them to pass H.R. 2474, also known as the Strengthening Medicare for Patients and Providers Act.
H.R. 2474 would add an annual inflation adjustment to the Medicare physician fee schedule, as well as adopt changes to the punitive Medicare budget neutrality mechanism, according to a June 23 news release.
"Current Medicare rates for anesthesia services bear absolutely no resemblance to reasonable market-based payment rates; but shockingly even more devastating payment cuts are scheduled for January 1, 2024," the letter said, "Congress must act soon to fix this broken system. Physicians who care for Medicare beneficiaries deserve much better."