Dear Majority Leader McConnell, Leader Schumer, Speaker Ryan and Leader Pelosi,
The undersigned surgical organizations urge Congress not to include Medicare cuts that could threaten
patient access to quality care in the tax bill, an end of the year spending package, or other legislation.
We understand the challenge of identifying offsets and appreciate the bipartisan work to advance the
Medicare extenders, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and other legislation to improve
access to care. However, we are particularly concerned that the Medicare extenders package identifies an
extension of the mis-valued code target recapture policy. The effort to ensure the accuracy of values
attributed to services received by Medicare beneficiaries is one to which we are firmly committed. But
this is also work that has been ongoing for years and reinstating the target recapture policy in the future
would likely result in across-the-board cuts given that much of the revaluation that the policy seeks has
already occurred or is currently being addressed.
Additionally, we have serious concerns about the cumulative effect of further Medicare sequestration cuts
beyond the current two percent cuts through 2025. We are also concerned about those that could be
triggered by the tax legislation should Congress not waive the PAYGO violation. These concerns are
especially acute at a time when physicians have just begun participation in the Merit-based Incentive
Payment System and other aspects of Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act.
Our organizations remain committed to working with Congress toward needed reforms to Medicare and
our health care system in order to improve patient access to surgical care. We urge you to support our
shared commitment to preserving access to care for Medicare patients by not compounding existing cuts
to Medicare with an extension of the mis-valued code target recapture or expansion of Medicare
sequestration cuts.
Read full letter here
