Medicare cuts and impact to health care access

Practicing medicine is deeply personal, and our greatest reward is the relationships we have with our patients. Working with our patients to reform Medicare physician payment will encourage Congress to take action.

We need a show of numbers from physicians to capture Congress’s attention and build the momentum to move legislation forward.

Step 1: Contact Congress

Urge Congress to stop the annual cuts to Medicare physician payment and provide for an overdue positive inflationary adjustment for physician practices. We need all members to participate in grassroots efforts to pass legislation, as a true show of numbers is critical to our success.

Step 2: Educate your patients

Our patients trust us to provide care. Medicare payment cuts threaten that trust by eroding our ability to provide that care. Our patients should be part of the dialogue, and the Academy has resources to educate your patients and empower them to act.

These tools include:

• Talking points (PDF) to help educate your patients on this issue and health care access.

• A template letter (Word) that you can send your patients educating them on this issue and encouraging them to contact Congress. The letter includes a QR code that directs patients to an easy form that connects them to their federal legislators.

• Handout with QR code (PDF) that you can post in your office or hand to patients.

Ask your patients to lend their voices. It is immensely persuasive for Congress to hear from seniors about how Medicare reimbursement cuts threaten their access to care.