Protecting Patient Access to Office-Based Specialty Care
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 11, 2021
Contact: Grant Herring
Media@USPAccess.org
(202) 552-1708
USPA Backs Rush-Bilirakis Letter To Reverse Clinical Labor Cuts
United Specialists for Patient Access is asking
members of Congress to join the bipartisan letter
WASHINGTON, DC — Today, United Specialists for Patient Access (USPA) is asking members of Congress to join the bipartisan letter led by U.S. Representatives Bobby L. Rush (D-IL) and Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) which asks the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate leadership to reverse the clinical labor cuts in the February omnibus appropriations legislation.
Click here to view the letter.
If Washington does not act to stop the CMS-directed cuts, they will result in fewer options for patients, cause a rise in health inequity, and hasten the consolidation of our nation’s health system. In addition, office-based providers will be forced out of business if the cuts remain in place.
The latest Rush-Bilirakis letter aims to stop the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) from implementing the updated clinical labor policy in the 2022 Physician Fee Schedule (PFS). USPA is asking office-based specialists to contact Congress and encourage their U.S. Representatives to join the letter.
The changes from CMS will force drastic cuts to specialty providers of up to 20%. In September, Rush and Bilirakis led a bipartisan, 75-member letter asking CMS not to finalize these cuts citing the devastating impacts on patients and providers.
Dr. Mark Garcia, USPA Board Member, the CMO of American Vascular Associates, and the CEO of Endovascular Consultants, said, “USPA is proud to support the bipartisan efforts of Congressman Rush and Congressman Bilirakis. Office-based providers need relief in the February omnibus appropriations package or the consequences will be dire. If Congress fails to prevent the clinical labor cuts, the end result will be worse patient outcomes, the acceleration of health system consolidation, and a wider health equity gap. Furthermore, the middle of a global pandemic that is overwhelming hospitals is not the time to squeeze out office-based specialists because they serve as a necessary relief valve.”
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About the United Specialists for Patient Access (USPA): The mission of USPA is to unify and strengthen the voice of office-based specialists, enabling professionals and patient advocates to work collaboratively with Congress and the Administration and achieve near-term relief and long-term payment stability in the Physician Fee Schedule. For more information, please click here: https://www.uspaccess.org.