CMA is asking physicians to act now to demand positive changes to the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule for 2024. Due to budget neutrality rules, the 2024 fee schedule includes a harmful 3.4% payment cut that will take effect if Congress does not act. With an expected 4.6% rise in health care inflation this year, the cut will be devastating for physician practices and patient access to care in California.
According to CMA, physicians are the only Medicare providers whose payments do not automatically receive an annual inflationary update, which means we will not receive a 4.6% update in 2024 like other health care providers. Because of this major flaw in the payment system, Medicare physician payments have lagged 26% behind the rate of inflation since 2001.
The California Medical Association, American Medical Association and all of organized medicine are uniting to urge Congress to stop the 3.4% payment cut and provide an inflation update for 2024.
Read More: For more information, see CMA’s letter to Congress.