Hand therapists, like many clinicians, are facing financial burdens due to outdated Medicare reimbursement calculations under the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS). While practice costs have risen over the past two decades, payments from Medicare have declined when factoring for inflation. This is untenable, and ASHT is urging Congress to provide a legislative solution.
This is why ASHT is excited that a bipartisan group of lawmakers in Congress have introduced H.R. 2474, the Strengthening Medicare for Patients and Providers Act. This legislation, introduced by Reps. Raul Ruiz (D-CA), Larry Bucshon (R-IN), Ami Bera (D-CA) and Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA), would add a permanent inflation update to the MPFS. Passage of this bill would provide important stability as ASHT continues advocating for broader Medicare reimbursement reforms to address multiple years of cuts.
Please contact your Representative to let them know how important this bill is for patients and providers and ask them to sign on as a cosponsor.