Congressional leaders form Medicare payment reform working group

After years of advocacy from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, American Medical Association, and many other medical societies and organizations, congressional leaders have formed a Medicare payment reform working group to address long-term solutions for physician payment. U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), John Thune (R-S.D.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), and Mark Warner (D-Va.) announced the formation of the working group.

Recognizing the challenges within the current physician payment system under Medicare, the bipartisan group aims to investigate and propose long-term reforms to the physician fee schedule and update the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA). With a focus on ensuring financial stability for providers, improving patient outcomes, and using emerging health care technologies, the group will engage stakeholders to develop policy solutions for sustained access to high-quality care.

AASM members are encouraged to visit the AASM Action Center and ask Congress to reverse the physician payment cuts implemented Jan. 1, 2024.