The Florida Medical Association (FMA) has called for participation in a national advocacy campaign aimed at addressing Medicare physician payment issues. The organization, alongside the American Medical Association and other physician groups across the country, has expressed concern that current Medicare payments are not sufficient to support medical practices.
According to the FMA, repeated reductions in Medicare payments have put various types of medical practices—including private, employed, academic, and community-based—at greater financial risk. Many health insurance payers base their rates on those set by Medicare.
The FMA is urging physicians and supporters to contact their U.S. representatives weekly until the issue is resolved. They recommend making phone calls every Monday or Friday and suggest visiting local congressional offices for added impact.
Supporters are asked to encourage lawmakers to back House Resolution 879, which was introduced by U.S. Rep. Greg Murphy, MD. This legislation proposes stopping a scheduled 2.83% cut in Medicare payments for physicians in January and instead suggests a 2% increase to help offset rising practice costs.
Physicians are encouraged to share personal stories about how payment cuts have affected their ability to maintain their practices or impacted patient access to care when speaking with legislators. The FMA believes that real-life examples can be effective in conveying the seriousness of the issue to policymakers.
“Thank you in advance for supporting this patient-focused grassroots campaign, which will help to move HR 879 forward,” stated the FMA.
