Policy Priorities
Explore the health care issues impacting patients. Together, we can advance solutions to safeguard your access to care.
Medicare Payment Reform
- The Medicare physician payment system determines how much a physician is reimbursed for the time and services they provide a Medicare patient.
- Medicare reimbursements have plummeted over the years, forcing many physicians to stop accepting Medicare patients or close their practice, putting access to care for all Americans at risk.
Prior Authorization
- Prior authorization is a health plan requirement that demands physicians obtain approval before a patient’s treatment or prescription qualifies for insurance coverage.
- This flawed process allows providers to delay, deter, or deny patients the care they need, leading to worsening health or even serious adverse events.
Drug Price Transparency
- The prescription drug supply chain is opaque, resulting in medications that cost dollars one day and hundreds the next day.
- Pharmacy benefit managers, pharmaceutical companies, and health insurers play games that cause these sudden price hikes, potentially leading patients to skip doses or abandon treatment altogether.
Health System Reform
- Millions of Americans have gained health care coverage because of the Affordable Care Act and Medicaid. However, access to affordable health insurance coverage remains at risk.
- Reforms to our health system should ensure universal access for patients and protect health insurance coverage for all Americans.
Graduate Medical Education
- After physicians complete medical school, many begin up to nine more years of specialty training, or graduate medical education (GME).
- Despite the value of this training, Congress repeatedly considers cuts to GME. This lack of funding limits physician training, hindering access to care.
