08 Sep ACS State Chapters Letter to Congressional Leadership: Stop Impending Medicare Cuts
September 8, 2021
The Honorable Nancy Pelosi
Speaker
U.S. House of Representatives
233 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515The Honorable Charles Schumer
Majority Leader
U.S. Senate
322 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
The Honorable Kevin McCarthy
Republican Leader
U.S. House of Representatives
2468 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515The Honorable Mitch McConnell
Republican Leader
U.S. Senate
317 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Dear Speaker Pelosi and Leaders Schumer, McConnell, and McCarthy:
On behalf of the undersigned chapters representing Fellows of the American College of Surgeons (ACS), we appreciate Congress’ efforts last year to delay the impact of Medicare payment cuts, providing reprieve during a time of significant instability. However, this critical relief will expire at the end of the year. Without congressional intervention, surgeons and other health care professionals are again facing significant cuts to Medicare payment.
Last year, Congress passed the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (Public Law No: 116-260), which provided a 3.75% payment adjustment to mitigate cuts resulting from budget neutrality requirements in the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS). Unfortunately, in July, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued its Calendar Year 2022 PFS proposed rule which does not maintain the payment adjustment and will result in a 3.75% cut to payments for services beginning January 1, 2022. This cut, combined with additional cuts related to Medicare sequestration, requires congressional intervention or surgeons and other health care professionals will face approximately 9% in cuts to Medicare payment on January 1, 2022.
The ACS looks forward to working with Congress to stop the impending 3.75% payment cut, as well as other cuts to Medicare payment. For more information about the ACS and Surgical Care Coalition’s ongoing efforts to prevent further Medicare payment cuts, visit www.facs.org/advocacy/federal/medicare and https://surgicalcare.wpengine.com/.
Sincerely,
Alabama Chapter
Alaska Chapter
Arizona Chapter
Arkansas Chapter
Brooklyn & Long Island Chapter
Colorado Chapter
Connecticut Chapter
Delaware Chapter
Eastern Long Island Chapter
Kansas Chapter
Kentucky Chapter
Keystone Chapter
Louisiana Chapter
Maine Chapter
Maryland Chapter
Massachusetts Chapter
Metropolitan Chicago Chapter
Metropolitan Philadelphia Chapter
Metropolitan Washington DC Chapter
Michigan Chapter
Minnesota Surgical Society – a Chapter of the ACS
Mississippi Chapter
Missouri Chapter
Montana and Wyoming Chapter
Nebraska Chapter
Nevada Chapter
New Hampshire Chapter
New Jersey Chapter
New Mexico Chapter
New York Chapter
North Carolina Chapter
North Dakota Chapter
North Texas Chapter
Florida Chapter
Georgia Society of the American College of Surgeons
Guam Chapter
Hawaii Chapter
Idaho Chapter
Illinois Chapter
Indiana Chapter
Iowa Chapter
Jacksonville Chapter
Northern California Chapter
Northwestern Pennsylvania Chapter
Ohio Chapter
Oklahoma Chapter
Oregon Chapter
Puerto Rico Chapter
Rhode Island Chapter
San Diego Chapter
South Carolina Chapter
South Dakota Chapter
South Florida Chapter
South Texas Chapter
Southern California Chapter
Southwest Missouri Chapter
Southwestern Pennsylvania Chapter
Tennessee Chapter
Utah Chapter
Vermont Chapter
Virginia Chapter
Washington Chapter
West Virginia Chapter
Western New York Chapter
Wisconsin Surgical Society – a Chapter of the ACS