Medicare Physician Payment System

Floor Speech

Mr. FITZPATRICK. Madam Speaker, for decades the fundamentally flawed Medicare physician payment system has created uncertainty and instability, not only in the health care system but in the larger economy.

Every year physicians face the threat of reimbursement cuts which, in turn, hinders their ability to provide the necessary care that patients need. The Sustainable Growth Rate rate formula has constantly called for negative updates to physician payments with the scheduled reductions accumulating year after year, but Congress has continually delayed the cuts.

Congress has a historic opportunity to implement sound fiscal policy in the Medicare program in the context of broad economic reforms. I believe we must pursue a fair, efficient, and affordable long-term solution to the Medicare SGR formula. I am committed to working with my colleagues to pass commonsense legislation that promotes efficiency, quality, and value and ensures access to medical services for Medicare beneficiaries.

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