'The cuts need to stop'

Rep. Greg Murphy, MD, is sponsoring legislation to improve Medicare pay to doctors.

The sponsor of legislation to stop a cut in Medicare reimbursement to physicians said he is optimistic Congress can address the issue as 2024 draws to a close.

Rep. Greg Murphy, MD (R-North Carolina), introduced the Medicare Patient Access and Practice Stabilization Act to stop a proposed 2.8% cut to physician pay in the 2025 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule. He spoke to Medical Economics about MPFS, the legislation and the limited time Congress has left to approve it in 2024. This transcript has been edited for length and clarity.

Medical Economics: The 2025 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule has a proposed 2.8% cut for physician reimbursement. What does that mean for doctors?

Murphy: It means a lot of things because it is salt in a wound that has had its scab, as it were, pulled off year after year after year. Last year, we were fighting a 4.8% decrease and I led that effort to try to stop that. I was not able to be successful in stopping the whole thing, but got it down, at least cut in half. This year now, with another 2.8% decrease in the face of medical inflation, it is just a real gut punch to those of us – and I count myself as one, as I'm practicing – who are delivering the care to our patients. We cannot survive on the fumes that the federal government is paying us through Medicare. The cuts need to stop.

Medical Economics: There is legislation pending now in the house. Can you discuss the Medicare Patient Access and Practice Stabilization Act?

Murphy: We submitted this last week, and it is to get rid of the 2.8% cut and in fact give a 1.8% raise because of medical inflation, which is, as I just pointed out, a fraction of medical inflation. But that said, this is to stop the bleeding and add a little bit to let us get back on track. I think there will be good bipartisan support. I had assurances from the speaker before October recessed that this issue will be dealt with. And so I'm very optimistic that the bleeding will stop for this year. What we really need to do is stop it completely.

Medical Economics: Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, who is also a physician, led an effort to publicly announce bipartisan support for stopping reimbursement cuts to physicians. In an era with a lot of political divisiveness, what does it mean to have that strong bipartisan support for the bill?

Murphy: I think bipartisan support is critical. And I was a co-lead with Dr. Miller-Meeks on that letter. I always kind of feel difficult addressing or, I hate to say, calling out leadership, to say, ‘Hey, deal with it.’ But we're really at a crossroads as far as physicians’ ability to continue, especially in private practice, with these continued cuts.

Medical Economics: Will this bill require committee review, and either way, how many days are left for the House to meet, either in committee or to vote on the legislation?

Rep. Greg Murphy, MD: We've only got a couple weeks in November and a couple weeks in December, so the time is short. Again, I've been assured by the speaker that this issue will be dealt with sometimes through the rules. I feel very confident that we're going to be able to get the issues settled before the end of the year.