Jordan Johnson: MedPAC Eyes Changes to Medicare Physician Payment Updates
Jordan Johnson, Founding Partner of Bridge Oncology and serves on the Board of Directors for the National Association of Medication Access and Patient Advocacy, shared a post on LinkedIn:
“MedPAC Eyes Changes to Medicare Physician Payment Updates.
The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) is considering a major revamp of how Medicare updates physician payment rates each year. With rising medical inflation and a 2.83% payment cut in 2024, commissioners are questioning whether current updates are sufficient.
What’s on the Table?
- Tying updates to the Medicare Economic Index (MEI) – Instead of the current system, MedPAC is exploring an annual increase based on MEI minus 1% to better reflect physicians’ rising costs.
- Improving payment accuracy – MedPAC wants HHS to regularly update cost data and refine how payment rates reflect real-world practice settings.
Next Steps: MedPAC will vote in April, and any recommendations could be included in its June report to Congress. While MedPAC’s recommendations are nonbinding, they influence congressional decision-making.
AMA President Bruce Scott supports the proposal, calling it a necessary step to protect physician practices and patient access to care.
Why This Matters: Unlike hospitals and other providers, physicians don’t get automatic annual Medicare payment increases. As costs rise, sustainable reimbursement is critical to ensuring Medicare beneficiaries can continue accessing care.”
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