Providers slam House for not delaying nearly 10% Medicare payment cuts in must-pass spending deal
by Robert King | December 2, 2021
Major provider groups were livid that a continuing resolution to fund the federal government also doesn’t stave off nearly 10% in cuts to Medicare payments set to go into effect on Jan. 1.
The Federation of American Hospitals and American Medical Association were upset that legislative language to fund the government through Feb. 18 does not delay cuts from several sources including the Sequester and PAYGO law. Other providers have been lobbying Congress fervently on the cuts.
“These cuts are unsustainable during normal times, and they are reckless during a public health emergency,” said Gerald Harmon, president of the American Medical Association in a statement Thursday. “The result of congressional inaction is that Medicare patients are certain to experience reduced access to care.”
The Federation of American Hospitals also warned that facilities are facing a “critical and growing workforce crisis” that the cuts would exacerbate, said President and CEO Chip Kahn.
The Surgical Care Coalition, a collection of 13 surgical professional organizations, slammed Congress for not taking action.
