Massive Coalition of 75 Health Care Organizations Support Including House-Passed Medicare Payment Provisions in Senate Package

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, 75 national clinician and professional medical organizations joined together to urge the U.S. Senate leadership to include the Medicare physician payment provisions from the House-passed One Big Beautiful Bill (HR 1) in the Senate version.  This unified communication from the health care community in the letter – led by the American Association of Neurological Surgeons / Congress of Neurological Surgeons, the American Society of Anesthesiologists and the American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons – highlights the urgency of addressing the broken Medicare physician payment system.  

The provisions in the House-passed legislation address decades of long-term instability in physician payment by tying the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule to inflation by establishing a permanent, annual update based on the Medicare Economic Index beginning in 2026. Unfortunately, the Senate version of the legislation does not include this provision. The letter urges leaders to include the House-passed provision in the Senate version.

As the letter states: “This provision represents a critical step toward stabilizing the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) and protecting access to care for seniors and individuals with disabilities who rely on trusted clinicians in their communities. It also helps promote competition by supporting community-based small businesses.”

“Our historic 75-member coalition reflects an extraordinary alignment of bedside professionals committed to the care of seniors and the disabled,” said Alexander Khalessi, M.D., MBA, chair of the AANS/CNS Washington Committee. “The House offered a strong first step towards sustainability for clinicians and continuity of care for all Americans. The Senate must not let this moment pass.”

“I am pleased that this massive coalition of front-line health care professionals has come together in an effort to address a deeply flawed Medicare physician payment.  This is a unique opportunity to start connecting Medicare payments to the increasing costs of providing services – something we have not had for years,” said ASA President Donald E. Arnold, M.D., FACHE, FASA. “Our coalition of organizations urge the Senate to adopt the House-passed provisions to ensure access to high-quality care for our patients and communities.”

"Simply put, removing the Medicare payment provision from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act puts access to high-quality care at risk. Without long-term reform, the nearly half of Medicare beneficiaries who rely on clinician-led practices will face increased barriers in getting the care they need," said Adam Bruggeman, M.D., FAAOS, chair of the AAOS Advocacy Council. "We urge you and your fellow Senators to consider the underserved communities that will face the brunt of this decision, including seniors, individuals with disabilities, and rural communities. Reinserting the House-passed provision will not only benefit patients, but also the community-based small businesses who provide critical care to these vulnerable populations." 

About the American Association of Neurological Surgeons and the Congress of Neurological Surgeons
The American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS), founded in 1931, and the Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS), founded in 1951, are the two largest scientific and educational associations for neurosurgical professionals in the world. These groups represent over 10,000 neurosurgeons worldwide. Neurological surgery is the medical specialty concerned with the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of disorders that affect the entire nervous system, including the spinal column, spinal cord, brain and peripheral nerves. For more information, please visit www.aans.org, www.cns.org and www.neurosurgery.org.

About the American Society of Anesthesiologists
Founded in 1905, the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) is an educational, research and scientific society with more than 59,000 members organized to advance the medical practice of anesthesiology and secure its future. ASA is committed to ensuring anesthesiologists evaluate and supervise the medical care of all patients before, during and after surgery. ASA members also lead the care of critically ill patients in intensive care units, as well as treat pain in both acute and chronic settings.

For more information on the field of anesthesiology, visit the American Society of Anesthesiologists online at asahq.org. To learn more about how anesthesiologists help ensure patient safety, visit asahq.org/madeforthismoment. Follow ASA on Facebook, X, Instagram, Bluesky, and LinkedIn.

About the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons 
With more than 39,000 members, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons is the world’s largest medical association of musculoskeletal specialists. The AAOS is the trusted leader in advancing musculoskeletal health. It provides the highest quality, most comprehensive education to help orthopaedic surgeons and allied health professionals at every career level to best treat patients in their daily practices. The AAOS is the source for information on bone and joint conditions, treatments and related musculoskeletal healthcare issues; and it leads the healthcare discussion on advancing quality.

Follow the AAOS on Facebook, X, LinkedIn and Instagram. 

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