New “Medicare basics” series offers background for advocates
The first two in a series of “Medicare basics” issue briefs providing an in-depth look at important elements of the Medicare physician payment system are now available. Documents in this series are intended to provide relatively straightforward explanations for policymakers and physician advocates about elements of the payment system and why they are in need of reform.
- Medicare physician payment adequacy: Budget neutrality (PDF)
- Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) (PDF)
In addition, please use the following charts in conversations with members of Congress to let them know the Medicare physician payment system needs reform to become a more sustainable, value-based system that better meets the needs of patients and physicians:
- Medicare provider updates for 2023 (PDF)
- Medicare updates compared to inflation (with comparison) (PDF)
- Medicare updates compared to inflation (without comparison) (PDF)
- Key measures of practice expense in the Medicare Economic Index (PDF)
- Medicare spending per enrollee (PDF)
- Real (inflation-adjusted) Medicare physician spending per enrollee (PDF)
Tell Congress to support legislation that would reform the flawed Medicare physician payment system and provide annual inflationary updates.