Pulaski Times

U.S. Senators John Boozman and Peter Welch, along with 39 other senators, have urged Senate leaders to address the proposed cuts to Medicare payments. The U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has suggested a rule that would reduce payments to physicians serving Medicare patients by 2.8 percent in 2025, marking the fifth consecutive year of such reductions.

The senators expressed their concerns in a letter addressed to Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, stating: "Persistent instability in the health care sector––due, in part, to consistent payment cuts––impacts the ability of physicians and clinicians to provide the highest quality of care." They highlighted that these cuts particularly affect independent clinical practices in rural and underserved areas, leading some practices to limit services or reduce the number of Medicare patients they treat.

The letter also calls on Congress to find long-term solutions for reforming the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA). The senators suggest enacting reforms that address statutory budget neutrality requirements and adjust payment updates based on inflationary pressures.

They emphasize that addressing these issues is essential for maintaining patient access to high-quality Medicare services and supporting healthcare providers across the nation.