Bill Includes Payment Increase to Offset Rising Practice Costs

Facing a deadline of March 14, federal lawmakers have restarted negotiations on a new government funding bill. Last week, ASNC endorsed the Medicare Patient Access and Practice Stabilization Act (H.R. 879). If passed, this legislation would prospectively, stop, in full, the 2.83 percent pay cut physicians received starting Jan. 1, 2025. The bill would be in effect from April 1 through Dec. 31, 2025.

The legislation also would provide physicians with a payment bump to help offset rising practice costs and some of the payment losses during the first quarter of this year. The positive adjustment would give physician a 2 percent raise,

The bill was introduced by Rep. Greg Murphy, MD (R-NC), along with Reps. Jimmy Panetta (D-CA), Mariannette Miller-Meeks, MD (R-IA), John Joyce, MD (R-PA), Carol Miller (R-WV), Claudia Tenney (R-NY), Paul Ruiz, MD (D-CA), Kim Schrier, MD (D-WA), Ami Bera (D-CA), and Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-CA).

“ASNC is urging Congress to take action on the Medicare Patient Access and Practice Stabilization Act, as declining reimbursement and the absence of inflationary updates pose grave challenges to physician practices,” says ASNC President Panithaya Chareonthaitawee, MD. “According to CMS, practice costs are projected to rise 3.5 percent this year. Physicians must have increased financial stability to continue providing care to patients.”

This is a developing story. Stay tuned to ASNC for updates.

Advocacy Hub

Story updated Feb. 13, 2025.

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