Organizations representing more than one million physician and non-physician health care providers unite to protect care for the millions of seniors who rely on the Medicare program.
WASHINGTON, August 5, 2021 – The Surgical Care Coalition joined more than 100 health care organizations representing more than one million physicians and non-physician health care providers calling upon Congress to prevent consequential Medicare payment cuts for at least two years in order to address long-term challenges associated with Medicare payment policy. By stopping these cuts, Congress can reaffirm its investment in surgical care for all patients when they need it most.
The proposed Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) cuts Medicare payments by 3.75 percent, with some specialties seeing cuts of up to 8.75 percent. Absent congressional action, the cuts are set to take effect in less than six months.
“CMS’s continued disinvestment in surgical care directly harms patients,” said Ali AbuRahma, MD, Society for Vascular Surgery President. “Vascular disease disproportionately affects Medicare patients, and without investment or at least stable funding, patient care will be in jeopardy.”
As stated in the letter, the ‘zero-sum’ structure of the MPFS inhibits the participation of health care providers and delivery of appropriate and timely quality care to meet the health needs of Medicare beneficiaries, and does not reflect the modern health care system in which different health care professionals work collaboratively to provide high-quality patient care.
“The House of Medicine stands united in our fight to stop these harmful cuts that hurt our vulnerable seniors who will suffer from a broken Medicare payment system,” said John K. Ratliff, MD, American Association of Neurological Surgeon/Congress of Neurological Surgeons Washington Committee Chair. “Ongoing structural problems with the Medicare fee system should not continue at the expense of patients. Congress must act now to prevent these cuts, then work to reform a health care system that our patients deserve.”
The Surgical Care Coalition urges Congress to stop the 3.75 percent cut to ensure all patients have access to high quality surgical care.
About the Surgical Care Coalition
The Surgical Care Coalition advocates for access to quality surgical care for all Americans. The Surgical Care Coalition is comprised of 13 surgical professional associations that proudly represent the more than 150,000 surgeons working across the country with a common goal of improving the quality of care, and quality of life, for all patients.
About the SVS
The Society for Vascular Surgery is the leading not-for-profit, professional medical society on establishing causes and treatments for vascular disease. SVS seeks to advance excellence and innovation in vascular health through education, advocacy, research and public awareness and is composed of specialty-trained vascular surgeons who are dedicated to providing comprehensive care for vascular disease. For more information visit www.vascular.org. Follow the SVS on Facebook @VascularHealth, Twitter @VascularSVS and Instagram @societyforvascularsurgery.