March 15, 2023: MGMA statement on March 2023 MedPAC report

MGMA statement on March 2023 MedPAC report

Anders Gilberg
Senior Vice President, Government Affairs
Medical Group Management Association
 

"Today’s MedPAC report recommends Congress provide an inflationary update to the Medicare base payment rate for physician and other health professional services of 50 percent of the Medicare Economic Index (MEI), an estimated annual increase of 1.45% for 2024. In the best of times such a nominal increase would not cover annual medical practice cost increases. In the current inflationary environment, it is grossly insufficient. MGMA patently disagrees that ‘current payments to clinicians appear adequate.’ Medical practices have been suffering from significant staffing shortages and cost increases across the board. An update of any amount less than the full MEI will not adequately remedy the negative impact of the broader economy on practices’ financial stability. On behalf of the nation’s medical groups — ranging from small physician practices in rural areas to large regional and national health systems — MGMA urges Congress to help ensure continued access to care for vulnerable Medicare beneficiaries by passing legislation to provide an annual inflationary update based on the full MEI." 

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