AMGA Urges Congress to Reverse Medicare Cuts to Protect Patient Access and Healthcare Workforce

Alexandria, VA – Today AMGA expressed deep disappointment in Congress' failure to address the 2.8% cut to the Medicare conversion factor, missing a key opportunity to protect patient access and the healthcare workforce during last week's Continuing Resolution vote. In a letter to House and Senate leadership, AMGA underscored the urgent need to alleviate their members' financial pressures resulting from the cuts took effect on January 1.

"These Medicare cuts are having an immediate and detrimental impact on patients and providers," said Jerry Penso, MD, MBA, AMGA president and CEO. "Reversing these cuts will significantly enhance patient access to care and provide essential financial relief, ensuring that AMGA members can maintain staffing levels and continue delivering the high-quality care their patients expect. Congress must act now to restore stability to our healthcare system."

AMGA recently surveyed its membership on what actions they are taking after the implemented conversion factor cuts in January 2025. Forty percent of AMGA respondents eliminated services to Medicare patients. Twenty-five percent of respondents furloughed or laid off clinical staff, and thirty-one percent of respondents furloughed or laid off nonclinical staff. Thirteen percent of survey respondents are not accepting new Medicare patients this year. The survey results are available on the AMGA website. 

The letter also outlines bipartisan legislative solutions to address the Medicare cuts, including H.R. 879, the Medicare Patient Access and Practice Stabilization Act of 2025. This bill, which has garnered support from over 100 co-sponsors, seeks to eliminate the 2025 Medicare conversion factor cut and introduce an inflationary update. The letter also expresses support for Congress to approve the bipartisan health extenders package from December, which has not received a vote in Congress. 

The letter is available on AMGA's website. 

###

About AMGA

AMGA is a trade association leading the transformation of healthcare in America. Representing multispecialty medical groups and integrated systems of care, we advocate, educate, innovate, and empower our members to deliver the next level of high performance health. AMGA is the national voice promoting awareness of our members’ recognized excellence in the delivery of coordinated, high-quality, high-value care. More than 175,000 physicians practice in our member organizations, delivering care to one in three Americans. 

AMGA represents medical groups and integrated systems of care. Its diverse membership includes multispecialty medical groups, integrated delivery systems, accountable care organizations, and other entities committed to improving healthcare outcomes. AMGA advocates for the formation of innovative, clinically integrated systems of care that advance population health, enhance patient experience, and reduce healthcare costs. For more information, please visit www.amga.org.