The Florida Medical Association (FMA) has announced its participation in a national advocacy effort aimed at reforming Medicare physician payment. The campaign, which includes the American Medical Association and other physician organizations across the country, seeks to address ongoing concerns about insufficient Medicare payments to physicians.
According to the FMA, repeated reductions in Medicare reimbursement have put many medical practices—whether private, employed, academic, or community-based—at financial risk. Because most insurance payers set their rates based on Medicare, these cuts have broader implications for healthcare providers.
The FMA is urging physicians and supporters to contact their U.S. representatives weekly until progress is made. The organization recommends making phone calls, ideally on Mondays or Fridays, and suggests that visiting local congressional offices could have an even greater impact.
Physicians are being asked to request support for House Resolution 879, introduced by Representative Greg Murphy, MD. The proposed legislation would halt a scheduled 2.83% reduction in Medicare payments set for January and instead implement a 2% increase to help offset rising operational costs.
The FMA encourages those contacting lawmakers to share personal experiences regarding how continued payment cuts affect practice sustainability and patient access to care. Stories that highlight impacts on patients are considered especially persuasive when communicating with elected officials.
“Thank you in advance for supporting this patient-focused grassroots campaign, which will help to move HR 879 forward,” the FMA stated.
