[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 6 (Thursday, January 11, 2024)]
[House]
[Page H86]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              CUTS TO THE MEDICARE PHYSICIAN FEE SCHEDULE

  (Mr. WENSTRUP asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. WENSTRUP. Mr. Speaker, I rise today because I am deeply concerned 
by the impact that recent cuts to the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule 
will have on patient access to healthcare across our great country.
  On January 1, 2024, a 3.4 percent Medicare cut took effect, impacting 
providers all across the United States. This is in addition to previous 
cuts.
  Providers have continued to bear the cost of many challenges that 
arose during the pandemic and after the pandemic, including staffing 
shortages, supply chain shortages, and continuing rising inflation--all 
of these.
  As the cost of providing care continues to rise, the reimbursement to 
physicians who provide the care continues to be cut.
  If we do not swiftly act to address these cuts now and in the long 
term, patients will suffer the most. The physician shortage will 
continue to worsen.
  Hospitals and independent community-based providers will continue to 
shutter their doors, and, sadly, America's seniors will be left with no 
option for high-quality, affordable healthcare.
  I urge congressional leadership to put the health of Americans first 
by stopping the Medicare cuts and ensuring that patients and Medicare 
beneficiaries have access to the providers who care for them by not 
cutting them out.

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