Bipartisan Coalition of Representatives Urge HHS To Address Pending Medicare Cuts and Preserve Access To Care

WASHINGTON — Today, U.S. Representatives Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kan.), Bobby L. Rush (D-Ill.), Brad Wenstrup, D.P.M. (R-Ohio), Terri A. Sewell (D-Ala.), David McKinley (R-W.Va.), and Tom O'Halleran (D-Ariz.) led a bipartisan coalition of more than 160 Members of Congress asking Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Seema Verma to use their regulatory authority to alleviate concerns with the CY2021 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule reimbursement adjustments.  They released the following statement:

“The COVID-19 public health crisis created unprecedented disruptions in our medical community.  Our healthcare providers have been on the frontline, adjusting to new challenges and providing critical care to patients.  Now is not the time for massive reimbursement cuts to specialists, including physical therapists, radiologists, pathologists, and surgeons, among other specialties.  Instead, we need to work together to ensure a path forward that will empower healthcare providers to recover from the last six months and to continue to offer essential health care services to patients, including America’s seniors.”

In the letter, the Representatives recognize that CMS has proposed payment improvements for primary care providers and other office-based physicians, increased telehealth access, and more.  However, the letter expresses grave concerns that these increases will result in corresponding cuts to other healthcare providers who have been among the hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic.  If left unresolved, the erosion of outpatient capacity will undermine much-needed care for patients.

The Representatives are urging Administration officials to engage with stakeholders, where possible, to  expeditiously establish a fair and equitable payment solution that address Medicare payment cuts, while at the same time moving forward with policies to increase payments to primary care and other office-based specialties.  This could be accomplished using funding sources outside of this fee schedule.

A copy of the letter can be found below.

###