November 29, 2021
The Honorable Nancy Pelosi, The Honorable Kevin McCarthy, The Honorable Charles Schumer, The Honorable Mitch McConnell
Dear Speaker Pelosi and Leaders Schumer, McConnell, and McCarthy:
On behalf of the undersigned organizations, representing over one million physician and non-physician health care providers,
thank you for your ongoing support for Medicare beneficiaries and the
health care provider community. Congress’ commitment to ensuring
greater stability within the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) for
calendar year (CY) 2021, via a 3.75% payment adjustment for all
services, avoided significant disruptions to care for Medicare
beneficiaries and provided a lifeline for health care providers as the
COVID-19 pandemic continues to stress the healthcare delivery system.
Unfortunately, this temporary measure did not address the ongoing
structural problems with the MPFS, and the provider community is again
bracing for steep cuts in 2022, which could result in many
beneficiaries losing timely access to essential health care services.
To avoid this scenario, Congress must act before the end of the
year to extend the 3.75% payment adjustment through at least CY
2022.
Our organizations would welcome the opportunity to work with Congress
to address long-term challenges associated with Medicare payment
policy, especially the budget neutrality provision in the MPFS that has
precipitated these steep cuts. The undersigned groups have been
encouraged by ongoing discussions with congressional leadership and
staff, who acknowledged the need to maintain and address payment
stability for physician and non-physician providers who serve older
Americans.
Further acknowledging this issue’s urgency and critical nature, nearly
250 bipartisan House members signed a “Dear Colleague” letter
(finalized October 2021) — spearheaded by Reps. Ami Bera, MD (D-CA) and
Larry Bucshon, MD (R-IN) — calling on Congress to take action to avert
these and other automatic Medicare payment cuts before the end of the
year. Following the release of the Calendar Year 2022 Medicare
Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule that indicated the Centers for
Medicare and Medicaid Services will allow this payment adjustment to
expire at the end of 2021, Reps. Bera, MD and Bucshon, MD ultimately
introduced H.R. 6020, bipartisan legislation to extend the 3.75% update
to the conversion factor for an additional year. Millions of seniors
rely on the Medicare program, and we must work to ensure it remains a
robust and dependable option for those who need it the most.
With the legislative calendar waning, we urge Congress to make a
critical investment in the nation’s health care delivery system by
embracing swift action to address the imminent cuts to Medicare
payments by extending the 3.75% payment adjustment through at least
CY 2022.
Maintaining this level of funding will provide much-needed stability
for physician and non-physician providers, as well as their patients, and provide an opportunity for
renewed discussions regarding long-term systemic reforms in the New
Year. We remain committed to partnering with Congress to identify and
advance these critical reforms and appreciate your continued support of
the health care providers on whom older Americans rely.
Sincerely,
National Organizations
Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
Alliance for Physical Therapy Quality and Innovation
Alliance for Recovery Care
Alliance of Specialty Medicine
Ambulatory Surgery Center Association
AMDA - The Society for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine
American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology
American Academy of Audiology
American Academy of Dermatology Association
American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
American Academy of Family Physicians
American Academy of Home Care Medicine
American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine
American Academy of Neurology
American Academy of Ophthalmology
American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology
American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
American Academy of Otolaryngic Allergy
American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
American Academy of Sleep Medicine
American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases
American Association for the Surgery of Trauma
American Association of Clinical Endocrinology
American Association of Clinical Urologists
American Association of Hip & Knee Surgeons
American Association of Neurological Surgeons
American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology
American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
American Chiropractic Association
American Clinical Neurophysiology Society
American Cochlear Implant Alliance
American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology
American College of Cardiology
American College of Chest Physicians
American College of Emergency Physicians
American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons
American College of Gastroenterology
American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics 3
American College of Mohs Surgery
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
American College of Osteopathic Internists
American College of Osteopathic Surgeons
American College of Physicians
American College of Radiology
American College of Rheumatology
American College of Surgeons
American Gastroenterological Association
American Geriatrics Society
American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted
Living
American Medical Association
American Medical Group Association
American Medical Rehabilitation Providers Association (AMRPA)
American Medical Society for Sports Medicine
American Medical Women's Association
American Occupational Therapy Association
Academy of Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry
American Optometric Association
American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society
American Osteopathic Association
American Physical Therapy Association
American Podiatric Medical Association
American Psychiatric Association
American Psychological Association
American Society for Clinical Pathology
American Society for Dermatologic Surgery Association
American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy
American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery
American Society for Radiation Oncology
American Society for Surgery of the Hand
American Society of Addiction Medicine
American Society of Anesthesiologists
American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery
American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons
American Society of Echocardiography
American Society of Hematology
American Society of Neuroradiology
American Society of Nuclear Cardiology
American Society of Pediatric Nephrology
American Society of Plastic Surgeons
American Society of Retina Specialists
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
American Urogynecologic Society
American Urological Association
American Vein & Lymphatic Society
American Venous Forum
Association for Clinical Oncology
Association for Quality Imaging 4
Association of American Medical Colleges
Association of Black Cardiologists
CardioVascular Coalition
Clinical Social Work Association
Coalition of State Rheumatology Organizations
College of American Pathologists
Congress of Neurological Surgeons
Dialysis Vascular Access Coalition
Digestive Health Physicians Association
Emergency Department Practice Management Association
Endocrine Alliance
Endocrine Society
Healthcare Nutrition Council
Heart Failure Society of America
Infectious Diseases Society of America
Infusion Providers Alliance
International Society for Advancement of Spine Surgery
Large Urology Group Practice Association
Medical Group Management Association
NANOS (North American Neuro Ophthalmology Society)
National Assoc of Rehab Providers & Agencies
National Association for the Support of Long Term Care (NASL)
National Association of Social Workers
National Association of Spine Specialists
National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy
Obesity Medicine Association
Outpatient Endovascular and Interventional Society
Physicians Advocacy Institute
Private Practice Section of the American Physical Therapy Association
PTPN
Radiology Business Management Association
Renal Physicians Association
Society for Cardiovascular Angiography & Interventions
Society for Vascular Surgery
Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons
Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography
Society of General Internal Medicine
Society of Gynecologic Oncology
Society of Interventional Radiology
Society of NeuroInterventional Surgery
Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
Spine Intervention Society
The American Society of Breast Surgeons
The American Society of Dermatopathology
The American Society of General Surgeons
The Fibroid Coalition
The Society of Thoracic Surgeons
The Society of Trauma Nurses
Trauma Center Association of America 5
United Specialists for Patient Access
State Organizations
Alabama Cancer Congress
Alabama Chapter, American College of Cardiology
Alaska Oncology and Hematology, LLC
Arizona Ambulatory Surgery Center Association
Arizona Chapter, American College of Cardiology
Arizona Dermatology and Dermatologic Surgery Society
Arkansas Medical Society
Arkansas Rheumatology Association
Association of Northern California Oncologists
California Chapter of the American College of Cardiology
California Medical Association
California Society of Dermatology & Dermatologic Surgery
Cardiology Elite PC
CardioVascular Consultants of Montana PLLC
Colorado Chapter, American College of Cardiology
Colorado Dermatologic Society
Colorado Medical Society
Commonwealth Neurological Society
Connecticut Chapter, American College of Cardiology
Connecticut Oncology Association
DC Chapter, American College of Cardiology
Delaware Cardiovascular Associates
Delaware Society for Clinical Oncology
Denali Oncology Group
Dermatological Society of New Jersey
Empire State Hematology & Oncology Society
Florida Chapter, American College of Cardiology
Florida Society of Dermatology and Dermatologic Surgery
Georgia Chapter, American College of Cardiology
Georgia Neurological Society
Georgia Society of Clinical Oncology (GASCO)
Great Lakes Society of Diabetes and Endocrinology
Hawaii Chapter, American College of Cardiology
Hawaii Medical Association
Hawaii Society of Clinical Oncology
Healthcare Nutrition Council
Idaho Chapter, American College of Cardiology
Idaho Medical Association
Idaho Society of Clinical Oncology
Illinois Ambulatory Surgery Center Association
Illinois Chapter, American College of Cardiology
Illinois Dermatological Society
Illinois State Medical Society
Illinois State Neurological Society
Indiana Academy of Dermatology
Indiana Chapter, American College of Cardiology 6
Indiana Federation of Ambulatory Surgical Centers
Indiana Neurological Society
Indiana Oncology Society
Iowa Chapter, American College of Cardiology
Iowa Neurological Association
Iowa Oncology Society
Kansas Chapter, American College of Radiology
Kansas Society of Clinical Oncology
Kentucky Chapter, American College of Cardiology
Kentucky Medical Association
Kentucky Society of Clinical Oncology
Louisiana Chapter, American College of Cardiology
Louisiana Oncology Society
Louisiana Urological Society
Maine Medical Center
Maryland Ambulatory Surgery Association
Maryland American College of Cardiology Advocacy Group
Maryland Chapter, American College of Cardiology
Maryland Dermatologic Society
Maryland Oncology Hematology
Massachusetts Academy of Dermatology
Massachusetts Chapter, American College of Cardiology
Massachusetts Medical Society
Massachusetts Society of Clinical Oncologists
MedChi, The Maryland State Medical Society
Medical Association of Georgia
Medical Association of the State of Alabama
Medical Oncology Association of Southern California
Medical Society of Delaware
Medical Society of New Jersey
Medical Society of the State of New York
Michigan Chapter, American College of Cardiology
Michigan Dermatological Society
Michigan Neurological Association
Michigan Society of Hematology and Oncology
Minnesota Chapter, American College of Cardiology
Minnesota Medical Association
Minnesota Society of Clinical Oncology
Mississippi Dermatologic Society
Mississippi Oncology Society
Mississippi State Medical Association
Missouri Ambulatory Surgery Center Association
Missouri and Kansas Neurological Society
Missouri Chapter, American College of Cardiology
Missouri Oncology Society
Missouri State Medical Association
Montana Academy of Dermatology
Montana Chapter, American College of Cardiology
Montana State Oncology Society 7
Nebraska Chapter, American College of Cardiology
Nebraska Dermatologic Society
Nebraska Medical Association
Nebraska Neurological Society
Nebraska Oncology Society
Nevada Heart and Vascular Center
Nevada Oncology Society
New England Chapter, American College of Cardiology
New Jersey Chapter, American College of Cardiology
New Mexico Society of Clinical Oncology
New York Chapter, American College of Cardiology
New York State Society of Dermatology and Dermatologic Surgery
North Carolina Dermatology Association
North Carolina Medical Society
North Carolina Neurological Society
North Carolina Oncology Association
North Dakota Medical Association
Northern New England Clinical Oncology Society
Ohio Association of Ambulatory Surgery Centers
Ohio Association of Rheumatology
Ohio Chapter, American College of Cardiology
Ohio Hematology Oncology Society
Ohio River Region Society of Endocrinology
Ohio State Medical Association
Oklahoma Society of Clinical Oncology, Inc.
Oregon Chapter, American College of Cardiology
Oregon Dermatologic Society
Oregon Medical Association
Oregon Society of Medical Oncology
Pennsylvania Academy of Dermatology
Pennsylvania Ambulatory Surgery Association
Pennsylvania Chapter, American College of Cardiology
Pennsylvania Neurological Society
Pennsylvania Society of Oncology & Hematology
Rheumatology Alliance of Louisiana
Rheumatology Association of Iowa
Rhode Island Dermatology Society
Rhode Island Medical Society
Rhode Island Neurological Society
Rocky Mountain Oncology Society
Society of Utah Medical Oncologists
South Carolina Oncology Society
South Dakota Chapter, American College of Cardiology
South Dakota State Medical Association
Tennessee Chapter of the American College of Cardiology
Tennessee Dermatology Society
Tennessee Medical Association
Tennessee Oncology Practice Society
Tennessee Rheumatology Society 8
Texas Ambulatory Surgery Center Society
Texas Chapter, American College of Cardiology
Texas Dermatological Society
Texas Medical Association
Texas Neurological Society
Texas Society of Clinical Oncology
The Arizona Clinical Oncology Society
The Medical Oncology Society of New Jersey
Utah Chapter, American College of Cardiology
Vermont Medical Society
Virginia Association of Hematology Oncology
Virginia Chapter, American College of Cardiology
Virginia Dermatology Society
Virginia Urological Society
Washington Chapter, American College of Cardiology
Washington State Medical Oncology Society
Washington State Neurological Society
West Virginia Oncology Society
West Virginia State Medical Association
Wisconsin Association of Hematology and Oncology
Wisconsin Chapter American College of Cardiology
Wisconsin Medical Society
Wisconsin Neurological Society
Wyoming Chapter, American College of Cardiology
Wyoming State Oncology Society
Cc:
U.S. Senate
U.S. House of Representatives