ACC Urges Lawmakers To Support Bill To Avoid Medicare Cuts Threatening Patient Access To Care

The American College of Cardiology is urging members of Congress to co-sponsor and move the Preserving Seniors’ Entry to Physicians Act of 2023 (H.R. 6683), which might get rid of the upcoming 3.37% lower to the Medicare Doctor Payment Schedules set to take impact on Jan. 1, 2024.

“We now have as soon as once more arrived at American clinicians’ annual vacation custom: urging Congress to not permit cuts to Medicare providers that exacerbate monetary uncertainty for practices, additional threaten affected person entry to care, and disproportionately impression America’s rural and senior populations,” mentioned American Faculty of Cardiology President B. Hadley Wilson, MD, FACC. “For many years we’ve got spent December searching for a fast repair to an issue that requires important reforms. We should search and set up sustainable fee practices that permit clinicians to proceed offering entry to high-quality care. Whereas addressing this upcoming lower is essential, it’s a short-term adjustment that won’t create a long-term answer. It’s crucial to guard sufferers now whereas we work collectively on lasting reform.”

A full repair to the three.37% lower is important to fight the shortage of inflationary replace regardless of clinicians and practices dealing with important inflationary price stress. Physicians are the one suppliers that don’t obtain an automated inflationary replace inside Medicare. Medicare doctor funds have dropped by 26% within the final 20 years, whereas follow bills have risen by 47% over the identical interval. Congress should act now to avert this disaster to take care of steady, constant entry to look after a few of America’s most weak sufferers.

The ACC is main the cost to remodel cardiovascular care supply. Tasked with advocating for cardiovascular sufferers and offering an expert dwelling for the complete cardiovascular workforce, the ACC is dedicated to growing and advancing options that may optimize the supply of cardiovascular care, enhance entry to care and enhance affected person outcomes and well being. Nevertheless, important reforms are required inside the present Medicare system to attain the ACC’s imaginative and prescient. Be taught extra in regards to the ACC’s Imaginative and prescient for Optimum Cardiovascular Care at ACC.org/OptimizeCVCare.