March 10, 2025, MedLegalNews.com – CMA President Condemns Congress: California Medical Association (CMA) President Shannon Udovic-Constant, M.D., expressed deep frustration over Congress’ failure to prevent another round of Medicare payment cuts to physicians. Despite bipartisan support for fixing the broken Medicare payment system, lawmakers have failed to protect patient access to care — triggering widespread concern among health care providers.
In a strongly worded statement, Dr. Udovic-Constant warned that continued reductions in Medicare physician payments will have devastating consequences for both physicians and patients, particularly seniors.
Another Year, Another Medicare Cut
The 2025 Medicare payment reduction marks the fifth consecutive year of cuts to physician reimbursements. With no inflation adjustments for physicians, the financial strain on medical practices has reached a critical level.
“Physicians continue to experience significant payment cuts without any adjustment for inflation,” said Dr. Udovic-Constant. “When factoring in inflation, Medicare physician fees have plummeted by a staggering 33% since 2001, while all other Medicare providers have received inflation updates.”
The ongoing cuts to Medicare physician payments pose significant risks to the health care system. Without intervention, many small and rural medical practices may face closure, while patients — particularly seniors — will face severe access challenges.
The Impact on Patients and Physicians
In California, the negative impact of low Medicare reimbursement rates has already become evident. According to CMA, physicians are being forced into early retirement, limiting the number of Medicare patients they can see, or closing their doors entirely to new Medicare patients. This has created:
- Longer wait times for primary and specialty care.
- Increased emergency department wait times.
- Reduced access to local care, especially in rural and underserved areas.
“This reckless disregard for the financial viability of physician practices is pushing small and rural practices to the brink of collapse,” Dr. Udovic-Constant stated. “Patients are now waiting months for primary care visits or traveling hours to see a specialist.”
The widespread reduction in physician availability further strains the health care system, limiting access to timely and quality care for seniors and vulnerable populations.
CMA Calls for Legislative Action
In response to Congress’ inaction, CMA is urging California lawmakers to support the inclusion of H.R. 879, the ‘Medicare Patient Access and Practice Stabilization Act’, in the upcoming March continuing resolution. This legislation aims to stabilize Medicare physician payment rates and protect patient access to care. CMA President Condemns Congress
“Congress must act now to protect seniors’ access to care,” Dr. Udovic-Constant emphasized. “Physicians cannot continue to absorb payment cuts while delivering high-quality care. We strongly urge the California delegation to fight for the inclusion of H.R. 879 and prevent further damage to our health care system.”
The passage of H.R. 879 would:
- Prevent further Medicare physician payment cuts.
- Provide long-term stability for medical practices.
- Ensure continued access to care for Medicare patients.
Without congressional action, physician shortages, long wait times, and reduced patient access will continue to deteriorate, impacting millions of California seniors.
Stay Informed
For more updates on health care policy and physician advocacy, visit:
- Congress Fails to Prevent Medicare Cuts — What This Means for Physicians
- California Pushes for Medicare Payment Stabilization Act
- New Medicare Payment Rules Take Effect — What You Should Know
- Physician Shortages and Medicare Cuts: A Growing Crisis
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Take Action — Protect Access to Care
The ongoing Medicare payment cuts threaten the financial survival of physician practices and limit patient access to care. CMA urges all health care providers, patients, and policymakers to advocate for the passage of H.R. 879.
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