Recently, President Biden stood with the United Auto Workers members (9/26) on picket lines outside of Detroit and urged them to continue their fight for a fair and deserved 40% pay raise. The auto workers are also seeking a reduced workweek (32 hrs. vs 40 hrs. per week), a shift back to traditional pensions, and several other options that they believe will restore cost-of-living adjustments.

Perhaps, what is more interesting is the fact that this is unprecedented in our times; a sitting president has never joined workers on the picket line.  The Commerce and the Auto Industry have been intertwined for a very long time, but what about other industries Mr. President?  Will you stand with those groups too?

Auto workers’ concerns of only getting a 20% increase in their compensation got your attention enough that you would fly to their sides, pick up a megaphone, and pledge your support to a 40% increase in pay, along with many other demands. What about healthcare?

When will every American be able to afford quality health care?  And how do you propose, with no increase to Medicare in 20 years, that the frontline (physicians) make that happen? Will you stand with physicians? 

Among the citizens of high-income countries, Americans pay the most for healthcare—by far. 

For patients, the average spent on healthcare can be deceptive. In actuality, the average patient deductible now exceeds the average spent on healthcare, meaning they pay far more medical expenses before insurance kicks into effect. In the past, bad medical debt was ascribed almost solely to those without insurance. Today, because of high deductibles, nearly 60% of bad debt from medical expenses is attributed to insured patients, up from just 11% five years ago. Why are physicians at risk for the deductible and copays? Insurers should pay them directly and get reimbursed for the members they cover.

For physicians, the increasing costs are just as crippling. The costs of running a medical practice increased 39% from 2001 to 2021. Medicare reimbursement rates for physicians during this same span of time actually declined by 20%. 

The current circumstances in the healthcare industry pose significant risks for providers and physicians, who too often face insufficient payment for their services. These challenges can cause burnout and contribute to the ongoing shortage of physicians. Insurance carriers make huge profits while healthcare providers struggle to survive, ultimately driving up hospital costs and limiting patient access to quality care.

So, I ask you again Mr. President, will you stand with physicians too?

What can you do? Currently, there is a bill in Congress, H.R. 2474, the Strengthening Medicare for Patients and Providers Act, introduced by physician representatives.  This legislation is essential to stabilize Medicare for patients and physicians.  Take Action Now!