Here are three policy changes that independent physicians say would make a difference in the fight to keep the doors open in the age of healthcare consolidation:
1. A permanent, annual inflation-based update to Medicare physician payments. On Sept. 5, theAmerican Medical Association released a comment letter addressing CMS' proposed 2.8% payment reduction. The letter urged Congress and CMS to be "fully transparent" about the effects of declining reimbursements on patients and physicians.
"[This] proposed rule is silent on the impact of the growing gap between what Medicare pays for care and what it costs to provide that care, the letter said. "A chorus of authorities on the Medicare program has expressed concern about the ability of patients to continue receiving high-quality care as physician payments erode."
2. Healthcare antitrust legislation. In May, thePhysicians Advocacy Institute sent a letter to federal officials regarding the negative effects of consolidation on healthcare. The letter, sent to the Justice Department, the Federal Trade Commission and HHS, urged officials to protect patients and physicians from corporate entities' "anti-competitive" practices. This would include federal policies that place undue pressure on independent physicians and small practices, leading to further consolidation and practice closures.
3. Reforms to prior authorization. While CMS did finalize a rule requiring certain payers to include a specific reason when denying prior authorization requests, physicians also want to see the integration of AI in the prior authorization process.