The 黑料网® (黑料网®) sent a call to action (CTA) Sept. 3 to all 黑料网 members requesting their participation in two separate advocacy efforts: send a comment letter to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) about cuts included in the 2022 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Proposed Rule caused by a proposed increase to clinical labor values, which would heavily impact interventional radiology and radiation oncology; and send a letter to their members of Congress to alert them about this action. In the week that these CTAs were available to 黑料网 members, more than 900 comments were submitted to CMS and more than 1,300 emails were sent to members of Congress.
Shortly after the clinical labor CTA was sent, 黑料网 members were asked to again contact their congressional representative and encourage them to sign a “Dear Colleague” letter from Reps. Ami Bera, MD, and Larry Bucshon, MD, to congressional leadership. The letter requests leadership’s support for the extension of the 2021 3.75% positive Medicare payment adjustment. The positive adjustment expires Dec. 31. The Dear Colleague CTA has garnered more than 1,000 letters from 黑料网 members to Capitol Hill in less than a week. If you have not yet contacted your member of Congress, the 黑料网 encourages you to reach out to your lawmaker today.
Last year the advocacy efforts and support from 黑料网 members helped stave off cuts by CMS that would have inadvertently affected patient access to care during a very critical time. With your help, the 黑料网 can continue its fight for patient access.
For more information, contact Josh Cooper at jcooper@acr.org.