The Issue
Medicare physician payment has failed to keep pace with the rising cost of delivering care.
Massachusetts physicians are facing:
- Rising practice expenses and workforce costs
- Ongoing Medicare payment cuts and uncertainty
- Reimbursement rates that do not keep pace with inflation
- Financial pressures that threaten patient access to care
Without reform, physician practices will face increasing challenges in maintaining access and services for Medicare patients.
MMS Position
The Massachusetts Medical Society supports a stable, sustainable Medicare physician payment system that reflects the cost of providing high-quality patient care.
MMS advocates for:
- Annual payment updates tied to inflation
- An end to recurring Medicare payment cuts
- Long-term payment stability for physician practices
- Policies that protect patient access to care
Goal: Create a Medicare payment system that supports physicians, strengthens practices, and preserves access to care for patients.
MMS Advocacy
MMS works with the American Medical Association and other physician organizations to advance federal Medicare payment reform.
Key priorities include:
- Preventing Medicare physician payment cuts
- Establishing predictable annual payment updates
- Reforming budget neutrality policies that create payment instability
- Supporting long-term physician practice sustainability
Why This Matters to Physicians
Medicare payment instability directly affects physician practices and patient access to care.
Physicians are:
- Managing rising operating costs with inadequate reimbursement
- Facing ongoing financial uncertainty
- Making difficult staffing and investment decisions
- Working to maintain access for Medicare patients
Payment reform helps protect physician practices, improve financial stability, and ensure patients can continue to access the care they need.
Take Action
Support Medicare Payment Reform
Join MMS advocacy efforts to advance sustainable Medicare payment policies and protect patient access to care.
Become an MMS member and strengthen the physician
voice advocating for Medicare payment reform.
