Physicians are "disappointed" by a recent congressional spending package that did not further reduce the Medicare pay cut that took effect at the start of 2024, according to a blog post from the American Medical Association.
The spending deal would temporarily lower the 3.4% Medicare physician fee cut, which took effect in January, to about 1.7%. Additionally, the cut, which is not retroactive, comes on top of last year's 2% Medicare physician pay reduction.
"While we appreciate the challenges Congress confronted when drafting the current 2024 appropriations package, we are extremely disappointed that about half of the 2024 Medicare physician payment cuts will be allowed to continue," AMA President Jesse Ehrenfeld, MD, said in the post.
The cost of running a practice is becoming unsustainable for many physicians, according to the post, as they face the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, inflation, staff shortages and burnout, among other challenges.
Rural, independent physicians will be the most affected by these cuts, Dr. Ehrenfield added.