FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 3, 2021
Contact: Grant Herring
(202) 552-1708
USPA Calls For Congressional Action To Restore CMS Cuts
That Hurt Patients and Office-based Providers
WASHINGTON, DC— Today, the United Specialists for Patient Access (USPA) issued the following statement in response to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) decision to move forward with the clinical labor policy at this time and force cuts on providers.
Dr. Mark Garcia, USPA Board Member and Health Policy Advisor:
“The decision by CMS to implement the clinical labor policy at this time is a mistake that will hurt patients and squeeze out providers. A four-year phase-in does very little to address the concerns of access and health equity.
“While CMS acknowledges that there are obvious 'negative effects' of their decision, the solution is fundamental reform of the PFS before these devastating cuts take full effect and permanently cripple health care delivery. The impact of this decision is clear: communities of color will see the health equity gap get worse and patients will receive lower-quality care.
“USPA is calling on Congress to restore these cuts and work with CMS on fundamental reforms to the Physician Fee Schedule.”
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About the United Specialists for Patient Access (USPA): The mission of USPA is to unify and strengthen the voice of office-based specialists, enabling professionals and patient advocates to work collaboratively with Congress and the Administration and achieve near-term relief and long-term payment stability in the Physician Fee Schedule. For more information, please click here: https://www.uspaccess.org