[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 195 (Thursday, December 15, 2022)]
[House]
[Page H9858]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    MEDICARE PHYSICIAN FEE SCHEDULE

  (Mr. MURPHY of North Carolina asked and was given permission to 
address the House for 1 minute.)
  Mr. MURPHY of North Carolina. Madam Speaker, I rise to address an 
impending disaster that is about to face patient care in this country.
  Not just 2 years ago in this country, physicians were hailed as 
heroes for risking their lives to save others during the pandemic. Now, 
when other professions are being given large raises, doctors are facing 
double digit Medicare cuts beginning in January.
  As a surgeon of 30 years, I can say without a doubt that these cuts 
will either force practices to close or severely restrict the number of 
Medicare patients who will be seen. The constant attack on physicians 
who see Medicare patients has to stop.
  At present, the cost of seeing a Medicare patient exceeds its 
reimbursement. That is why most internal medicine practices will not 
see new Medicare patients.
  The constant threat to Medicare needs to stop. We have a growing and 
aging population. We need to provide some certainty to doctors and 
hospitals if they are going to be able to plan to take care of these 
Medicare patients.
  Madam Speaker, we cannot end this session without a Medicare fix.

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