ASAM Endorses Medicare Patient Access and Practice Stabilization Act

In 2024, Congress failed to provide meaningful financial relief for physicians who treat patients and seniors enrolled in Medicare. Lawmakers allowed payment cuts to go into effect as part of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services' (CMS) CY 2025 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) Final Rule. Additionally, physician payments for Medicare were further cut by 2.83%. These cuts, on top of the rising costs to operate a medical practice and provide critical healthcare services for patients in need, is creating an unsustainable path for physicians.

In response, ASAM and leading physician organizations sent a letter to House and Senate leadership calling for the inclusion of the bipartisan Medicare Patient Access and Practice Stabilization Act (H.R. 879) in the forthcoming appropriations bill. The bill would put a stop to the latest round of payment cuts and give physicians a two percent payment increase to keep up with the rise in inflation. 

Read the full letter here.