Medicare Doctor Payment Cuts Spur Calls to Congress for Relief

Medicare payment rules and pending reimbursement cuts next year are causing unease among doctors and other providers who say the scheduled reductions don’t account for increased labor costs and inflation.

They’re looking to Congress for relief. And lawmakers from both parties appear supportive.

One day after the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services finalized a rule imposing a nearly 4.5% across the-board cut for providers next year, 46 senators called on the chamber’s party leaders “to work with members on a bipartisan basis to address these imminent payment cuts,” or risk “reduced staffing levels and office closures, jeopardizing patient access ...