In an urgent appeal to safeguard the nation’s Medicare program, the California Medical Association (CMA) is calling on Congress to stop the looming Medicare physician payment cuts, which if allowed to take effect would devastate physician practices and make it even more difficult for the nation's seniors to get the care they need.

CMA, the 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.

“While there is broad bipartisan support to address Medicare payment reform, the political dysfunction in Congress continues to make it extremely difficult to meaningfully address long-term solutions and protect Medicare patient access to care,” said CMA President Tanya W. Spirtos, M.D. “Physicians are the backbone of the Medicare program, and we will continue to fight to ensure that our patients have access to high-quality physician care. CMA urges Congress to stop the cuts in the January 2024 must-pass appropriations legislation.”

CMA, AMA and more than 100 other physician groups recently sent a joint letter to Congressional leaders urging swift action to stop the cuts.

“America’s physicians and their patients deserve better. The flawed Medicare physician payment system is in desperate need of fixing,” the letter said. “We stand ready to work with House and Senate leadership on bipartisan solutions to stop these drastic payment reductions and provide stability in the Medicare program for our nation’s seniors and the physicians who care for them.”

Physician payment has already declined by 26% over the last two decades. With an expected 4.6% rise in health care inflation this year, the net impact on physician payments will be an 8% decrease in 2024, which will be devastating for physician practices and patient access to care in California.