On December 20, Congress passed a short-term spending bill that does not include relief for physicians from a 2.83 percent Medicare payment cut that will take effect January 1.

Congressional leaders had struck a bipartisan and bicameral deal on a spending package that included a 2.5 percent positive Medicare payment adjustment for physicians. This and other health provisions were on the verge of enactment before President-Elect Donald Trump called on Republicans to scrap the measure.

The short-term spending bill extends COVID-era telehealth flexibilities until March 31, 2025. Inexplicably, the bill did not include Medicare Advantage prior authorization reforms despite having overwhelming bipartisan support and a $0 cost estimate from the Congressional Budget Office.

The physician community still has an opportunity to convince Congress to halt the cut. The bill passed by Congress and signed into law keeps the government funded until March 14, 2025 while lawmakers continue to negotiate a fiscal year 2025 spending bill that could serve as a legislative vehicle for physician payment relief as well as other health provisions.

Physicians began 2024 facing a similar scenario because Congress had failed to address the physician payment cut at the end of 2023. Lawmakers ultimately acted in March 2024 to mitigate the cut for the remainder of the year.

ASGE members will be called upon in early 2025 to urge their lawmakers to make Medicare payment cut relief an immediate priority for the 119th Congress.