Statement attributable to:
Isaac O. Opole, MBChB, PhD, MACP
President, American College of Physicians
WASHINGTON December 19, 2024 – With the looming Dec. 20 deadline for Congress to approve an extension in federal funding, it is critical that they act to preserve patient access to care and improve affordability. A lapse in funding for federal health programs will cause confusion and unpredictability in health care for both physicians and our patients.
Beyond just extending current funding levels, Congress must act before the end of the year to prevent cuts to Medicare physician payments and to ensure patient access to necessary medical services via telehealth. The scheduled 2.83 percent cut to Medicare payments comes on top of decades of what had been flat payment rates for physicians and a cut that already took effect earlier this year, making it increasingly unaffordable for physicians to continue to accept Medicare in their practices. Also troubling for practice operations and patients is the end of telehealth flexibilities that were initiated during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our Medicare patients have come to rely on virtual access to services over the past four years and severely restricting that access would make it harder for patients, many of whom suffer from one or more chronic conditions, to receive needed care. Finally, we call on Congress to include reforms for Pharmacy Benefit Managers that were in the version of the budget legislation that had been announced earlier this week. More needs to be done to mitigate the rising cost of prescription medications and ensure that our patients can access the treatments they need.
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About the American College of Physicians
The American College of Physicians is the largest medical specialty organization in the United States with members in more than 172 countries worldwide. ACP membership includes 161,000 internal medicine physicians, related subspecialists, and medical students. Internal medicine physicians are specialists who apply scientific knowledge and clinical expertise to the diagnosis, treatment, and compassionate care of adults across the spectrum from health to complex illness. Follow ACP on X, Facebook, Instagram, Threads and LinkedIn.
Contact: Jacquelyn Blaser, (202) 261-4572, jblaser@acponline.org