A bipartisan group of lawmakers in the House introduced a bill to reverse the proposed 2.8% Medicare Physician Fee Schedule cut, MedPage Today reported Oct. 29.
Four key points:
1. Rep. Greg Murphy, MD, R-N.C., joined by co-sponsors and hundreds of supporting medical groups, introduced the Medicare Patient Access and Practice Stabilization Act.
2. The bill follows an Oct. 11 letter signed by 233 House members supporting Medicare cut reversal.
3. "Our bipartisan legislation would not only prevent harmful cuts but also would adjust provider reimbursements for inflation," Rep. Jimmy Pancetta, D-Calif., said in an Oct. 29 news release from Rep. Murphy's office. "Such a law would expand seniors' access to quality healthcare by helping medical providers continue their care for Medicare beneficiaries."
4. The bill would also raise physician pay by half the Medicare Economic Index's increase, accounting for healthcare inflation.