Miller-Meeks Introduces the Physician Fee Schedule Update and Improvements Act

WASHINGTON, D.C.  — U.S. Representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks (IA-01) introduced the “Physician Fee Schedule Update and Improvements Act,” legislation that makes improvements to the physician fee schedule under the Medicare program. 

“The current structure of the physician fee schedule does not provide sustainable, reliable and consistent payment rates for physicians who see Medicare beneficiaries,” said Miller-Meeks. “These cuts, especially when the costs to practice have markedly increased, further strain our nation’s doctors, limiting patient access to care. Each year, doctors routinely face harmful payment cuts making it increasingly difficult to remain in practice and accept Medicare patients, which is worsened in rural areas like Southeastern Iowa. I am proud to introduce the ‘Physician Fee Schedule Update and Improvements Act’ and will continue to work to stabilize adequate payment rates to keep providers in practice and increase access to quality care that seniors can afford.”

Read the full text of the bill here.

Background:

• Increasing the budget neutrality from $20 million to $53 million would allow for greater flexibility in determining pricing adjustments for services without leading to harmful payment cuts for doctors. Because the payment structure is budget neutral, doctors regularly face cuts when certain services receive payment increases.
   
• The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) did not update supply and equipment prices between 2005-2019 and also did not update clinical staff wage rates between 2002-2022. While CMS did eventually update payment rates, incremental increases would have allowed doctors to plan better. This bill brings needed stabilization to reimbursement and updates the formula to reflect accurate costs of running a medical practice.

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