Rep. Panetta Convenes Local Health Care Leaders to Discuss Solutions to Medicare Physician Shortages

Since 2001, inflation has increased by 40%, yet physician Medicare payments have only increased by 7%. Today's Medicare payments on average lag 40% behind the cost of providing care. According to the California Medical Association, 76% of physicians report that Medicare does not cover their costs to provide care, with a significant number of providers reporting revenue losses. 41% of physicians in California are considering closing their practices to new Medicare patients.

"More and more seniors have fewer and fewer options for primary care providers due to declining reimbursement rates," said Rep. Panetta. "Partnerships between the federal government and physicians are essential to developing solutions that will ensure Medicare is properly reimbursing for care and supporting practices in our community. We'll continue our work in Congress with legislation that would not only stop harmful Medicare cuts for providers but fix this problem for the long-term to ensure access to quality care for our seniors."

Rep. Panetta recentlyled a bipartisan coalition of 232 Members of Congresscalling for urgent action in the 118^th Congress to address Medicare provider cuts and rapidly dwindling care options. Rep. Panetta previously introduced the bipartisan Preserving Seniors' Access to Physicians Actthat would offset costs to protect providers from planned cuts. Rep. Panetta plans to introduce bipartisan legislation to ensure provider reimbursement under the Medicare program is adjusted for inflation.

In addition to Rep. Panetta and representatives from Sutter Health, joining the roundtable discussion were leaders from the California Medical Association, Santa Cruz Community Health, Santa Cruz Direct Primary Care, Movement for Life Physical Therapy, Watsonville Community Hospital and the Pajaro Valley Health Care District, Dominican Hospital, and Dignity Health.

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