The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) have proposed the 2027 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule. While recent fee schedules have included a minimal increase to physician payment through a small increase in the conversion factor and an efficiency adjustment that will positively impact cognitive specialties, the proposed rule for 2027 will include a 1.68% payment cut and changes to remote monitoring codes for most rheumatologists.

The ACR has long urged Congress to work towards long-term, sustainable reforms to Medicare physician reimbursement to protect patient access to care. The Patients First Act (H.R. 9693), led by Representatives John Joyce, MD (R-PA), Kim Schrier, MD (D-WA), and Greg Murphy, MD (R-NC), would promote reimbursement stability and protect physicians by:   

• Establishing inflation-linked payment updates in the MPFS;
• Setting MPFS payment parameters to create payment predictability;
• Raising the budget neutrality threshold that triggers payment offsets; and
• Making important changes to MIPS.

Congress must act to pass policy changes that will address the impact of inflation and budget neutrality requirements on patients’ access to care. America’s physicians and patients deserve better – please contact your members of Congress today and urge them to co-sponsor H.R. 9693! Take a moment to send your letter today!