The American College of Radiology (ACR) is urging Congress to reconsider provisions that address immediate and long-term Medicare physician payment reform.
In a June 23 letter, the college noted changes in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, stating that the legislation has omitted Medicare physician payment concerns. The initial version of the Senate Committee on Finance bill released last week did not contain Medicare physician payment policy reform.
"We find the omission of addressing Medicare physician payment concerns untenable," ACR CEO Dana Smetherman, MD, wrote in the letter. "Congress has recognized the need for short- and long-term Medicare physician payment reform and provided relief via a series of short-term patches, the last of which expired on January 1, 2025."
Even with congressional action, when adjusted for inflation, Medicare physician payment has declined 33% from 2001 to 2025, the letter noted, adding that physicians are contending with a payment system that does not keep pace with the true cost of running a medical practice.
“Not including payment reforms in the Finance Committee proposal is not a positive sign that Congress will address these long-standing issues in this bill,” Smetherman said in the ACR Bulletin. “Still, the bill is far from done; there will also be other legislative vehicles to be considered by Congress this year."
