APTQI Joins in Coalition Letter Urging Congress to Act on Preventing Deep Medicare Cuts for Next Year 

APTQI has joined a coalition representing over one million physicians and non-physician healthcare clinicians in urging Congress to prevent the deep, across-the-board Medicare payment cuts for physicians planned for next year. 

In their letter, the organizations clarified that the medical field desperately needs relief before these cuts take effect on January 1st. Preventative action by Congress will help provide financial stability for practices until permanent payment reforms are established. 

“The importance of Congressional action to prevent cuts entirely cannot be understated,” said Nikesh Patel, PT, Executive Director of APTQI. “A financially destabilized health system is likely if Congress does not act now, jeopardizing access to care for all who rely on physical, occupational, and speech therapy, especially for our most medically vulnerable.” 

The organizations underscored the tangible and clear consequences if there is a failure to act by Congress. These sustained cuts, compounded by inflation and without an updated system, will result in financial instability for clinicians. Practices will be forced to factor in these financial realities when gauging their ability to provide care to Medicare beneficiaries, putting healthcare access at risk across the nation.

“On top of this nearly 4.5% Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) payment cut, medical practices throughout the country are experiencing significant inflationary pressures. Since the MPFS is the only payment system within Medicare lacking an annual inflationary update, clinicians, many of whom are small business owners, contend with a wide range of shifting economic factors — such as staff salaries, building rent, and purchase of essential technology — when determining their ability to provide care to Medicare beneficiaries,” the letter said.

Other groups on the letter include the American Medical Association, American Physical Therapy Association, American Occupational Therapy Association, and United Specialists for Patient Access.

You can support this effort by using the hashtag #stopthefullcut when sharing your story on social media and by contacting your lawmakers on the need for action.

Click here to read the coalition letter.

Click here to ask your lawmaker to support legislation to stop these cuts.