Capitol Insights: Highlights from National Advocacy Conference Congressional Remarks

The AMA National Advocacy Conference took place this past week, Feb. 12-14. Hundreds of physician advocates gathered in Washington, D.C., to hear updates on and advocate for the issues that matter most to the profession of medicine.

Throughout the conference, congressional representatives took the stage, sharing insights on key health care priorities. Here is what you may have missed.

Rep. Larry Bucshon, MD (R-IN)

Rep. Larry Bucshon, MD, opened the congressional remarks at the National Advocacy Conference with his insight on the status of physician priorities in the?bill to fund the government beyond March 2024. Dr. Bucshon expressed optimism that Congress would?reverse part of the 3.37% Medicare physician payment cut physicians received on Jan. 1, 2024, and encouraged?attendees to continue pushing for?an annual Medicare physician payment update tied to inflation, as is included in?H.R. 2474, the?Strengthening Medicare for Patients and Providers Act.?

Dr. Bucshon also noted the need for Congress to act this year and pass?the?Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act,?a bipartisan bill to reform prior authorization in Medicare Advantage. Dr. Bucshon also stressed the need for proper implementation of the No Surprises Act and discussed his bipartisan legislation, H.R. 2584, the Safety from Violence for Healthcare Employees (SAVE) Act, aiming to protect health professionals and patients from violence within hospitals.

Rep. Robin Kelly (D-IL)

Rep. Robin Kelly championed H.R. 6371, the Provider Reimbursement Stability Act of 2023. This legislation aims to rectify the perennial issue of annual cuts to physician pay by introducing long-awaited reforms to the flawed Medicare physician payment system's budget neutrality process.?

In her session, Rep. Kelly also talked about her work to extend postpartum Medicaid coverage from 60 days to 9 months to improve maternal outcomes, as well as the launch of the Congressional Digital Health Caucus focused on educating members of Congress on AI and other innovative technologies in health care.??

Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL)

Ways and Means Health Subcommittee Chairman Vern Buchanan sat down with AMA President-elect Bruce Scott, MD, to discuss numerous issues of concern for America’s physicians. Chairman Buchanan, citing his own background in managing a small business, recognized that the current system with no inflationary updates is unsustainable in the long run, and Congress must address the 3.37% cut to Medicare physician payments that went into effect on Jan. 1. During the conversation, Chairman Buchanan repeatedly focused on the importance of preventive care. He noted that with the health care sector comprising roughly 20% of the U.S. economy, coupled with widespread shortages of health care professionals, including physicians, it was imperative that Americans become “CEOs of their own health.”

During the wide-ranging conversation, Chairman Buchanan and Dr. Scott also discussed medical liability reform, the impact of consolidation in health care, and the promise of augmented intelligence. On a personal note, Buchanan talked about his bipartisan bill to ensure that seniors have access to breakthrough medicines to treat Alzheimer’s disease. His bill, the MERIT Act, was advanced out of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

Rep. Ami Bera, MD (D-CA)

As a House member who does not sit any committees with jurisdiction over health care, Rep. Ami Bera spoke about enjoying his freedom from committee politics and working with Rep. Bucshon on leading bipartisan legislation on physician priorities that are foundational to the practice of medicine. As a physician member of Congress, he has a much better understanding of the challenges doctors face in running a practice and he discussed his support for legislation to provide physicians with an inflation-based update in the Medicare program. ?

Rep. Bera, a member and founder of the House Problem Solvers Caucus, has also introduced legislation streamlining the Medicare Advantage prior authorization process to help reduce physician burden and burnout. He’s hopeful the bill—the Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act—which has broad bipartisan support, will get a less costly score from the Congressional Budget Office and move during this session of Congress.?He’s passionate about building the physician workforce, discussing his idea for an all-payer model to fund more residency positions so we can train enough physicians to meet patient need. He’s optimistic about the future of medicine and thinks in time and with the help of Congress, we will build a more stable Medicare program that provides high-value, patient-centered care.??

Rep. Richard Neal (D-MA)

The National Advocacy Conference ended with remarks from House Ways and Means Ranking Member Richard Neal, praising the American Medical Association for its ongoing expertise and highlighting Massachusetts' critical role in health care. Citing strong enrollment statistics for 2024, Neal emphasized the crucial part the Affordable Care Act plays in providing health insurance for Americans, and Massachusetts' role as a national leader among the states in achieving high health insurance coverage rates for adults and children. ?

?Delving into legislative achievements during the 116th and 117th Congresses, Neal lauded the enactment of crucial bills such as the CARES Act, American Rescue Plan Act, Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, and the No Surprises Act. Stressing the need for bipartisan collaboration in Congress, he outlined the importance of working across party lines to pass impactful legislation.?

Neal expressed appreciation for the fiscal and workload challenges physicians face. During the Q&A session, he passionately advocated for Congress to include provisions in an upcoming legislative package to extend funding for the federal government beyond March 8, in order to reverse the 3.37% cut physicians experienced on Jan. 1, 2024. In pursuit of this policy objective, Neal urged AMA physician advocates to encourage bipartisan cooperation. He specifically called on Republicans and Democrats to collaborate on a bill that would fund the government beyond March 2024. Additionally, he reiterated his support for legislation providing physicians with an annual inflationary update in Medicare. Furthermore, he also endorsed the Improving Seniors' Timely Access to Care Act, a bipartisan initiative aimed at streamlining prior authorization in Medicare Advantage.?

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