U.S. Rep. Greg Murphy (R-NC) on Jan. 31 led a dozen of his colleagues, including U.S. Reps. John Joyce (R-PA) and Carol Miller (R-WV), in introducing a bipartisan bill to amend federal law and increase support for physicians and other practitioners in adjusting to Medicare payment changes.
Introduction of the bill is in response to a 2.83-percent Medicare reimbursement cut that went into effect on Jan. 1 for physicians due to a rule finalized by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) in November of 2024. Compounded with CMS’ own estimates of a projected 3.6-percent increase in practice cost expenses for this year, physicians could face a 6.43-percent cut unless Congress acts, according to the lawmakers.
“Physicians in America are facing unprecedented financial viability challenges due to continued Medicare cuts. Access to affordable and quality health care for millions of seniors is in severe jeopardy,” Rep. Murphy said. “The cost of caring for a Medicare patient far outpaces the reimbursement that physicians receive for seeing them. On top of that, the expense of providing care continues to rise due to medical inflation.”
This inflation, coupled with declining reimbursement rates, creates enormous financial pressures on physicians, forcing many to retire early, stop accepting new Medicare patients, or sell out to larger, consolidated hospital systems, private equity, or even insurance companies, added the congressman.
“The future of private practice medicine, the most cost-efficient and personalized care, is in dire straits,” said Rep. Murphy. “This bipartisan legislation prevents further cuts, provides a modest inflationary adjustment to help ease the cost of care, and ensures Medicare remains viable for both doctors and patients.”
The lawmaker sponsored the Medicare Patient Access and Practice Stabilization Act of 2025, H.R. 879, alongside 12 original cosponsors, including Reps. Joyce and Miller, and U.S. Reps. Rich McCormick (R-GA) and Jimmy Panetta (R-CA).
“Throughout the country, we have seen more consolidation and less access within our healthcare system,” said Rep. Joyce. “While the price to administer high-quality care has continued to rise over the last 20 years, the Medicare reimbursement rate for physicians has continued to drop. I’m proud to be part of a bipartisan solution to ensure that patients, especially those in rural and underserved areas, can continue to receive the care they need and want from the physicians they know and trust.”
Rep. Miller pointed out that senior citizens across the country should not lose access to their local health care because of reimbursement cuts.
“The bipartisan Medicare Patient Access and Practice Stabilization Act would increase funding for services that are necessary for Medicare patients,” Rep. Miller added. “Physicians should have the resources they need to treat their patients and everyone, regardless of where they live, should have access to quality medical care.”
H.R. 879 has been referred for consideration to both the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee and the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee.