Join Your Colleagues to Drive Medicare Payment Reform

Across the country, ophthalmologists are using August to meet with their federal legislators to call for long-term Medicare payment reform, with a focus on patient access to care, and the growing gap between inflation and physician reimbursement.

One of the requests our members will be making is for support of a bill that would provide an annual update to Medicare physician payment that is tied to inflation. Your advocacy plays a critical role in amplifying our call for a stable and sustainable Medicare system.

• If you signed up for an August recess meeting, be sure to review the issue briefs and talking points materials we sent you, so you can ensure a successful meeting.
• If you weren’t able to meet with a legislator, urge your representative to co-sponsor HR 2474.

Four physician members of Congress introduced the Strengthening Medicare for Patients and Providers Act, a bill that would provide an annual Medicare physician payment update tied to inflation, as measured by the Medicare Economic Index.

As the Academy noted in a June letter to Congressional leaders: “nearly all other Medicare providers and suppliers receive an annual inflationary payment update.”

Physicians are the primary group left out of these inflation updates. As the Academy pointed out in its letter, failure to adjust physician payment for inflation contributes to increasing consolidation.

The Academy also urged representatives to pursue an inflationary update to physician payment in formal testimony for a House Energy and Commerce Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee Hearing in June. The hearing focused on needed changes to Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act.

The need to address physicians' payment and provide stability within the house of medicine is evident as the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission, which advises Congress, called for an inflation update for physicians, in recommendations issued early this year. This issue is a top advocacy priority for the Academy. As we continue to work with Congress to make meaningful reforms, we urge you to get involved. Sign up to become an advocate and defend your patients and profession.