Physician lawmakers introduce bill to tie Medicare pay to inflation

A group of physician lawmakers has introduced the Patients First Act, which revamps the Medicare physician fee schedule, expands access to care and improves incentives for independent practices. 

Here are eight notes on the new legislation, according to a July 15 news release from Rep. John Joyce, MD, one of the lawmakers who introduced the act. 

1. The Patients First Act ties physician reimbursement to an inflationary measure.
2. The legislation establishes a primary care hybrid payment pilot program that pays primary care physicians a per-member-per-month payment along with regular services.
3. The bill creates a program that includes a physician- and clinician-led task force at CMS to develop quality metrics.
4. The Patients First Act freezes advanced alternative payment models participation thresholds for three years and creates notice and comment periods for Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation mandatory models.
5. The act increases the budget neutrality threshold from $20 million to $54.3 million.
6. The Patients First Act reforms the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015.
7. CMS recently proposed a rule that includes a 1.68% cut to the physician fee schedule. 
8. Reps. Greg Murphy, MD, and Kim Schrier, MD, introduced the bill along with Dr. Joyce.

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