East Idaho Times

Washington D.C.--During a hearing on Medicare clinician payment improvements, U.S. Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) emphasized the importance of addressing the challenges facing the current system. Crapo opened his remarks by highlighting the critical role Medicare plays in providing healthcare for millions of Americans, stating, "Over the next decade, this population will grow by more than 20 percent."

Crapo pointed out that the current Medicare policies may not be sufficient to meet the growing needs of the population, emphasizing the urgency of advancing durable clinician payment reforms. He warned that without proactive policy changes, there could be negative consequences for millions of seniors, including surges in wait times, office closures, and cutbacks in provider participation.

The Senator stressed the need for structural fee schedule reforms that promote team-based, patient-centered approaches, moving away from the current system that undervalues vital services and increases administrative burdens. He highlighted the decline in Medicare Physician Fee Schedule payments over the past two decades, despite rising costs for clinicians.

Crapo also criticized the current Merit-based Incentive Payment System for burying clinicians in paperwork and failing to provide meaningful value for patients. He called for reforms that focus on not only financial incentives but also structural improvements aligned with patient needs.

In conclusion, Crapo expressed his commitment to working on bipartisan efforts to strengthen and modernize the clinician payment systems, stating, "The program’s current and future enrollees depend on it." He thanked the witnesses for their participation in the hearing and acknowledged the Chairman for the opportunity to address these crucial issues.