For many Kentuckians...care depends on the stability of local physician practices. Yet the financial foundation supporting those practices is increasingly strained by flaws in Medicare’s physician payment system. Medicare sets payment rates for physicians who care for seniors and people with disabilities. Unfortunately, those payments have not kept pace with the rising costs of operating a medical practice.

The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) recommended today that Congress increase the payment update for physicians caring for Medicare patients in 2027, reinforcing the urgent need to stabilize Medicare physician payment and protect patient access to care. The AMA welcomed the recommendation.

Our older neighbors deserve full access to quality care, not second-best. Congress must reform Medicare payments so physicians can sustain practices, devote adequate time to patients, and maintain the high standard of care our seniors deserve.

The Medicare Physician Fee Schedule isn’t keeping up with the reality of running a practice in such a rural state. Congress needs to reform this flawed system so that patients across America can get the timely treatments they need in their communities.

Medicare’s failure to keep physician payments in line with inflation is pushing doctors out of practice and making it harder for patients, especially in rural areas, to get care.

The Medicare physician payment system continues to reward physicians for navigating Medicare’s requirements, leaving independent physicians to seek hospital employment as a more attractive option for dealing with the already-burdensome task of running a private practice. Congress must take action to reform this broken system.

Inadequate Medicare reimbursement rates threaten care for seniors by forcing physicians to reduce services or stop accepting Medicare patients, leading to delays and worse health outcomes. Congress must reform the payment system to account for inflation and support physicians.

Missouri faces a worsening physician shortage, with rising demand and declining Medicare reimbursement making it harder for independent practices to stay open. The crisis highlights the urgent need for long-term Medicare payment reform to ensure fair physician compensation and protect access to care nationwide.

Medicare physician payment rates have not kept pace with inflation, placing increasing financial strain on independent practices and threatening patient access to care. Congress must reform this broken system with inflationary updates.