Thread by @MarilynHeineMD

1/ ⁦@AmerMedicalAssn⁩ strongly supports HR1868 to protect physician practices: tinyurl.com/tna2a8hk

Prevent across-the-board direct spending cuts that threaten financial viability of physician practices, especially during #COVID19 PHE & beyond. @SpeakerPelosi @GOPLeader

2/ HR1868 is vital to protect physician practices:

•Extend current moratorium on the 2% Medicare sequester cuts past the 3/31/21 deadline

•Avoid additional Medicare statutory PAYGO cut of up to 4% triggered by budgetary impact projected under American Rescue Plan Act of 2021

3/ The #COVID19 #pandemic persists and continues to have a substantial fiscal impact on physician practices.

It is critically important that physicians are able to provide frontline care to #Medicare beneficiaries.

4/ These arbitrary across-the-board #Medicare cuts are detrimental and will surely have a devastating impact on many already distressed physician practices that are still recovering from substantial financial losses due to the pandemic.

Act to help physicians keep the lights on.

5/ These cuts come when physician practices still face overwhelming financial challenges and pressures:

⬆️ overhead costs such as PPE

⬇️ revenue due to fewer patient visits and delayed elective procedures during the pandemic

6/ Congress has recognized the devastating impact of COVID-19 across the economy, including on physician practices, and previously prevented 2% Medicare sequester cuts during PHE.

Without any additional Congressional intervention, these harmful payment cuts will be re-imposed.

7/ Imposition of a 4% cut on physicians and other Medicare providers was a consequence of the decision to pass legislation through a process that did not afford an opportunity to address it.

8/ Congress should not pursue any further legislation that would trigger statutory PAYGO cuts on Medicare providers.

9/ Injecting additional uncertainty into the healthcare system is an unnecessary distraction when physicians and others are focused on fighting the pandemic. 

Physicians now need further relief, as the COVID-19 pandemic will extend well beyond the first quarter of this year.

10/ Congress is urged to work in a bipartisan fashion to immediately:

•Ensure that the policies contained in HR1868 are enacted into law

•Provide additional assistance to physicians as we attempt to care for patients while we struggle to keep our practices operating

11/ Assistance necessary for physician practices can take many forms, e.g.:

•Remove barriers to patient care

•Mitigate future Medicare cuts caused by policies included in the 2021 Physician Fee Schedule

•Direct resources to address physician needs thru Provider Relief Fund

Support HR1868 👆@CongBoyle @RepBrianFitz @CongressmanGT @RepMeuser @RepJohnJoyce @RepDwightEvans @RepDean @RepHoulahan @RepSusanWild @GReschenthaler @MikeKellyPA @RepConorLamb @mgs @USRepMikeDoyle @RepCartwright @RepFredKeller @RepScottPerry 
@RepSmucker @SenToomey @SenBobCasey