The California Medical Association (CMA) has expressed support for the Strengthening Medicare for Patients and Providers Act, a bipartisan bill introduced by Representatives Raul Ruiz, M.D. (D-CA) and Gus Bilirakis (R-FL). The proposed legislation aims to address longstanding issues with Medicare physician payments by implementing an annual payment update tied to the Medicare Economic Index.
CMA President Rene Bravo, M.D., commented on the importance of the bill: “Medicare’s chronic underinvestment has pushed physician practices to the brink, and patients are already feeling the consequences. This bipartisan bill is an essential step toward stabilizing the system and protecting seniors’ access to care. We are grateful to Congressmen Ruiz and Bilirakis for their leadership.”
Physicians nationwide have reported increasing difficulty in accepting new Medicare patients, reducing patient volume, or closing their practices due to financial pressures. According to CMA, since 2001, operating costs for medical practices have increased by 47%, while Medicare physician payments have decreased by 33%. Additionally, there is currently no dependable annual inflation adjustment within the program.
CMA is urging members of California’s congressional delegation to co-sponsor and advance this legislation in order to maintain access to care for seniors and other Medicare beneficiaries.
