Lawmakers are mulling reform of how Medicare pays physicians, concerned that insufficient reimbursement in the federal insurance program is incentivizing consolidation and increasing healthcare costs.
Physician pay has declined over the past two decades when accounting for inflation, spurring independent providers to be acquired by hospital systems rather than go it alone, provider witnesses told representatives during a House Energy and Commerce subcommittee hearing Wednesday. And representatives agreed that’s a concern.
“Making sure that independent physician practices stay open […] is one of the most critical ways we can ensure competition and drive down costs,” said Rep. Kim Schrier, D-Wash.
Read the full article at Healthcare Dive