APTQI Joins More Than 100 Provider Groups Urging Congress to Act Immediately on 2025 Medicare Cuts Now in Effect 

To address Medicare provider cuts, specialty provider groups – including like physical and occupational therapists – call on Congress to pass the bipartisan Medicare Patient Access and Practice Stabilization Act (H.R. 879)

Washington, D.C. –– APTQI, alongside 100+ physician and non-physician organizations, representing more than one million clinicians, urged Congress to pass legislation to address the current 2.83 percent Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MFPS) cut that went into effect on January 1. Specifically, in a February 28 letter to Congressional leaders, the groups call on Congress to pass the bipartisan Medicare Patient Access and Practice Stabilization Act (H.R. 879), which would address the 2025 Medicare cut and provide a positive payment update, as part of any must-pass appropriations package in March. 

Medicare reimbursement has long failed to keep pace with rising practice costs and inflation. In fact, Medicare payments have fallen by 33 percent since 2001 even when accounting for inflation, according to the American Medical Association. Years of successive cuts have harmed the stability of many providers, which could have serious repercussions for older Americans’ access to care. 

“Clearly, this unstable path threatens Medicare beneficiaries’ timely access to quality care — in both rural and urban settings. The ongoing downward reimbursement spiral is also contributing to consolidation in the health care system, as more clinicians are no longer able to sustain their practices and are forced to seek alternative business models, such as hospital employment, private equity and other alternatives. Finally, these cuts threaten the ability of our members — which are employers and small business owners — to serve as economic engines of our local communities,” the letter states.

To stabilize the Medicare system and protect patients’ access to care, physical and occupational therapy providers are urging lawmakers to quickly pass the Medicare Patient Access and Practice Stabilization Act. Since early February, APTQI members have sent nearly 9,000 letters to their U.S. Representatives asking them to support H.R. 879. 

“The 2.8% cut to this year’s MPFS will have devastating effects on providers around the country, especially those in rural America and smaller practices that are struggling to keep their doors open due shrinking reimbursement. We must act by supporting HR 879 to correct this injustice to providers and patients who are in the greatest need for care,” said Nikesh Patel, PT, Executive Director of APTQI.

To read the letter to Congressional leaders, CLICK HERE.

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