Federal Bill Introduced Linking Medicare Reimbursement Updates to Inflation

A bi-partisan group of lawmakers recently introduced H.R. 2474—the Strengthening Medicare for Patients and Providers Act. The legislation introduced by Representatives Raul Ruiz, MD (D-CA-25), Larry Bucshon, MD (R-IN-08), Ami Bera, MD (D-CA-06), and Mariannette Miller-Meeks, MD (R-IA-01) would address payment uncertainty affecting Medicare-participating providers and avoid potential provider shortages for Medicare beneficiaries.

H.R. 2474 would change the physician payment rate above the current law by providing an annual Medicare physician fee schedule update tied to inflation, as measured by the Medicare Economic Index (MEI).