The US House of Representatives passed HR 1, One Big Beautiful Bill, last Thursday, impacting Medicare, Medicaid, and other APMA Advocacy priorities.
Medicare Physician Payment
The bill includes an inflationary adjustment for Medicare physician payment for 2026 and beyond. APMA has repeatedly called on Congress to reform the broken Medicare physician payment system.
APMA appreciates the House acknowledging the decline in Medicare physician payment and linking physician reimbursement to inflation, and believes the bill is just the first step to ensuring fair and equitable reimbursement. HR 1 increases physician payment by 75 percent of Medicare Economic Index (MEI), i.e. practice cost inflation, for 2026, and only 10 percent of MEI 2027 and beyond. The House Bill further neglects to cancel the Medicare cut for this year.
Medicaid Access
The bill also contains changes to the Medicaid program. APMA and 42 other podiatric organizations recently urged Congress to avoid draconian cuts to Medicaid that would impact patient access to podiatric physicians and surgeons.
Student Loans
There were several concerning student loan provisions in the recently passed bill, including caps on federal student loans and other limitations. APMA has previously advocated for student debt relief and is working with podiatric and other health-care partners to oppose these changes.
As the Senate begins its consideration of the budget reconciliation bill, APMA will continue its advocacy to promote and protect the interests of the podiatric medical profession and their patients.