ACA, Coalition take action to stop Medicare physician fee cuts in 2021

The American Chiropractic Association (ACA), along with a coalition of more than 45 specialty provider groups, has taken decisive action in recent weeks to oppose proposed reductions in Medicare reimbursement for chiropractic and other specialties slated to begin in January 2021.

The coalition, which ACA was instrumental in establishing last year, features a diverse range of physician and provider groups such as the American College of Emergency Physicians, the American Occupational Therapy Association, the American Physical Therapy Association, and the American Psychological Association.

On Oct. 5, the group penned a letter to CMS Administrator Seema Verma, MPH, urging her to prevent cuts to the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS), which are intended to achieve budget neutrality. “[The cuts would] cripple the recovery of the nation’s health care system by exacerbating revenue shortfalls that are already jeopardizing the financial viability of physician and non‐physician providers across the country,” the coalition writes. This in turn could potentially impact patients’ access to medically necessary specialty care.

Rep. Michael C. Burgess (R-Texas) recently introduced a legislative remedy, H.R.8505, a bill that would implement a one-year waiver of the required budget neutrality adjustments under the PFS, preventing the cuts from going into effect on Jan. 1.

Broad congressional support for such a solution was made clear when 229 Members of Congress sent a letter to House leadership urging them to avoid the “excessively steep cuts.”

Take Action to Stop Physician Payment Cuts

Now it is time for doctors of chiropractic to join the effort to stop the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule cuts. Congress is listening to its constituents on this critical issue. Take a moment to send a letter to your member of Congress, urging them to cosponsor H.R. 8505 and ensure Medicare patients receive the care they need. Visit acatoday.org/HR8505 to make your voice heard on this important issue.

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About the American Chiropractic Association

The American Chiropractic Association (ACA) is the largest professional chiropractic organization in the United States. ACA attracts the most principled and accomplished chiropractors, who understand that it takes more to be called an ACA chiropractor. We are leading our profession in the most constructive and far-reaching ways–by working hand in hand with other health care professionals, by lobbying for pro-chiropractic legislation and policies, by supporting meaningful research and by using that research to inform our treatment practices. We also provide professional and educational opportunities for all our members and are committed to being a positive and unifying force for the practice of modern chiropractic. To learn more, visit acatoday.org and connect with us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.