Congresswoman Tenney Introduces Legislation to Preserve and Protect Medicare for Patients and Physicians
Oswego, NY – Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24) today, alongside Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D. (NC-3), introduced the Medicare Patient Access and Practice Stabilization Act to support physicians and protect access to care for Medicare beneficiaries.
Additional cosponsors include Representatives Jimmy Panetta (CA-19), John Joyce, M.D. (PA-13), Raul Ruiz, M.D. (CA-25), Mariannette Miller-Meeks, M.D. (IA-1), Kim Schrier, M.D. (WA-8), Ami Bera, M.D. (CA-6), Carol Miller (WV-1), Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-8).
According to the American Medical Association, inflation-adjusted Medicare reimbursement for physician services has dropped 33% from 2001 to 2025. These cuts strain our healthcare system, especially in rural and underserved areas. Rising costs and declining rates force practices to cut staff, reduce services, or close their doors. With a growing physician shortage and aging doctors nearing retirement, these cuts worsen burnout and further limit Medicare patients' access to care.
"Preventing the impending Medicare reimbursement cuts to physicians is critical to ensuring seniors have access to the high-quality care they deserve," said Congresswoman Tenney." Financial stability for providers isn't just a matter of fairness—it's essential for protecting access to care, particularly in rural and underserved areas like Western New York where physician shortages have been a persistent challenge. The rising cost of delivering care, coupled with increasing administrative burdens, makes it clear that Medicare payment policies must evolve to reflect the true costs faced by physicians."
"Physicians in America are facing unprecedented financial viability challenges due to continued Medicare cuts. Access to affordable and quality health care for millions of seniors is in severe jeopardy," said Congressman Murphy. "Doctors see Medicare patients out of compassion, not for financial gain. The cost of caring for a Medicare patient far outpaces the reimbursement that physicians receive for seeing them. On top of that, the expense of providing care continues to rise due to medical inflation. This inflation, coupled with declining reimbursement rates, creates enormous financial pressures on physicians, forcing many to retire early, stop accepting new Medicare patients, or sell out to larger, consolidated hospital systems, private equity, or even insurance companies. The future of private practice medicine, the most cost-efficient and personalized care, is in dire straits. This bipartisan legislation prevents further cuts, provides a modest inflationary adjustment to help ease the cost of care, and ensures Medicare remains viable for both doctors and patients."
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