AAFP Statement: Medicare Payment Freeze and Medicaid Cuts Will Limit Access to Care for Patients

Statement Attributable to:
Larry Fields, M.D.
President
American Academy of Family Physicians

With a vote of 51 to 50, the Senate passed the Budget Reconciliation Bill yesterday, and the American Academy of Family Physicians, with membership representing more than 94,000 family physicians nationwide, are dissatisfied with the outcome.

“I want to commend the House and the Senate for avoiding the 4.4% cut to physicians in the face of such a large deficit. However, next year, we will expect Congress to pass Medicare reimbursement reform by eliminating the sustainable growth formula in favor of a more reasonable measure that will lead to positive Medicare payment updates. In fact, the Academy and its members will redouble its pressure for a permanent solution to inequitable Medicare payments next year even as physicians accept a Medicare payment freeze today.”

“We are going to keep hammering on them. The freeze is okay for this year, but it is not okay for next year.”

“With regards to the Medicaid cuts, without additional reforms, that combination amounts to less access to care for patients and a potential Medicaid pay cut for physicians. If anything good is to come of the budget cuts in Medicaid, it would be to force states to be more realistic about their programs and examine models such as the one in North Carolina. It is efficient, physician friendly and patient friendly. Across the board cuts in eligibility and increased co-payments without other reforms, such as that in North Carolina, will have a negative impact on patients and our members.”

“Medicaid patients cannot afford co payments in the first place. Higher co payments will worsen the problem and our members cannot afford to spend money collecting co-payments that are not collectible. These cuts will limit access and limit health among Medicaid patients.”