How Idaho seniors can avoid losing health care access

Consider a senior in Idaho who is attempting to make an appointment for a standard medical visit. Now assume that even though they require critical care, they discover that there are more obstacles to getting treatment, longer wait periods, and fewer doctors accessible.

If Congress does not take action on Medicare physician payment changes, this scenario may become a grim reality. The Medicare Patient Access and Practice Stabilization Act, H.R. 10073, may be able to help us avoid this bleak future. U.S. Senator Mike Crapo and other members of Idaho’s congressional delegation would have a pivotal vote on this measure.

Patient access is under immediate danger due to congressional intransigence on Medicare physician payments. The elderly in our country may not be able to locate a doctor when they need one most due to planned reductions in Medicare payouts by 2025. Some of our most vulnerable neighbors, Medicare seniors, are counting on Congress to take prompt, decisive action.

Congress has been delaying potential payment cuts for years, frequently in a last-minute rush, but it hasn’t passed any long-term, significant reform. These temporary fixes have simply made matters worse for healthcare providers who treat Medicare consumers. We are now at a tipping point.

As part of a planned attempt to counteract advancements in payment policy, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will implement a 2.8% cut in Medicare payouts come January 2025 unless Congress steps in. After four years of relentless inflation, doctors’ finances will be further stretched, which will unavoidably have an impact on patient care.

It’s critical to recognize that physicians are distinct from other healthcare professionals. Medicare payments to physicians do not include an annual inflation adjustment, in contrast to those to hospitals or nursing homes. This defect is more than just a small annoyance; it is a systemic weakness that makes doctors’ financial burdens worse, particularly in the wake of the epidemic and in the face of ongoing inflation in the healthcare sector.

A grim picture is painted by the numbers. Between 2001 and 2024, the cost of operating a medical practice increased by more than 50%. However, over the same time span, Medicare physician payments have decreased by 29% after accounting for inflation. Physician fees have only increased by about 10% since 2001, whereas hospital payments have increased by about 80%. Despite this, doctors continue to play a vital role in our healthcare system, providing everything from life-saving procedures to preventive care.

Physicians face more than just financial strain. Within two years, one in five doctors have thought about leaving their practice due to burnout and an excessive workload. Imagine the profound impact this could have on our communities: fewer available physicians, more overworked remaining doctors, and delays in care that could be life-threatening for seniors.

H.R. 10073 provides a much-needed remedy. If this law is passed, the 2.8% payment cut would not occur and a 1.8% update for 2025—equivalent to half of the Medicare Economic Index—would instead be provided. This stabilization would guarantee that medical practices continue to be profitable and provide elders with the high-quality treatment they are entitled to.

However, this is insufficient. In order to provide physicians with a stable and sustainable payment structure, Congress may also think about passing legislation updating the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule permanently to reflect inflation.

Sen. Crapo has consistently stood out for the elderly in Idaho. A tangible measure that puts our elderly population’s health first and guarantees that doctors have the resources necessary to provide the care they require is H.R. 10073.