Press Releases

WASHINGTON – Yesterday, U.S. Representative Larry Bucshon, M.D. (R-IN-08) along with Representatives Mariannette Miller-Meeks, M.D. (R-IA-01), Ami Bera, M.D. (D-CA-06), and Raul Ruiz, M.D. (D-CA-25) penned an op-ed in The Hill promoting their bipartisan legislation, Strengthening Medicare for Patients and Providers Act (H.R. 2474). In the piece, Dr. Bucshon and his colleagues argue that until policy changes are enacted to address the growing chasm between Medicare reimbursement rates for physicians and the real costs of running a practice, the myriad of challenges facing America’s physicians will only worsen.  

Excerpts from the op-ed can be found below, or you can read the full op-ed here in The Hill. 

“America’s physicians have more than stepped up to the challenges that they have encountered over the past three years. Throughout the pandemic, they put in countless hours, often risking their own health and safety to keep our communities healthier and safer.  

Even now, physicians nationwide continue to face grueling hours, rising costs, and widespread burnout that is undermining our nation’s health care workforce and could soon threaten patient access and affordability. What’s more, many physicians today are working under an unsustainable Medicare payment system that fails to adequately reimburse them for the critical, life-saving services they provide.  

That is why, as both lawmakers and physicians ourselves, we were proud to introduce the bipartisan Strengthening Medicare for Patients and Providers Act (H.R. 2474), legislation that would modernize the outdated Medicare physician payment system while protecting patients’ timely access to care. If passed, this bill would apply a permanent, inflation-based update to the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, meaning Medicare reimbursements to physicians would more accurately reflect the real-world impact of inflation on the costs to physician practices.  

Passing the Strengthening Medicare for Patients and Providers Act would go a long way toward reforming the dysfunctional, unsustainable Medicare Physician Fee Schedule. Most importantly, it would help ensure fairness, provide financial stability for physicians, and protect vital access to care for millions of patients nationwide. We urge our colleagues to help us pass this much-needed legislation.”

Congressman Larry Bucshon, M.D. represents Indiana’s 8^th Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives and is a senior member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

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