CLAYTON STEWART

- Texas Medical Association (TMA) wrote a letter regarding calendar Year 2027 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Proposal; CMS 1848-P to Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. - TMA signed on to a letter to Representatives Joyce, Murphy, and Schrier to express our support for H.R. 9693, the Patients First Act. - TMA signed on to Protesting Modifier 25 Cuts in 2027 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule: CMS-1848-P; Medicare Program; CY 2027 Payment Policies Under the Physician Payment Schedule and Other Changes to Part B Payment and Coverage Policies.

- Enact comprehensive legislation to 1) ensure physicians receive inflationary updates tied to the Medicare Economic Index (pursuant to MedPAC recommendations); and 2) eliminate budget neutrality requirements. - Cosponsor and enact H.R. 3514/S. 1816, the Improving Seniors Timely Access to Care Act, which would streamline and standardize electronic prior authorization processes in Medicare Advantage and increase health plan oversight. - Cosponsor and enact H.R. 2433, the Reducing Medically Unnecessary Delays in Care Act, which would require Medicare coverage decisions, including prior authorization, to be based on written clinical criteria developed in consultation with physicians.

- Support H.R. 8163, the Provider Reimbursement Stability Act, which represents a necessary step toward building a more rational, predictable Medicare physician payment system that preserves patient access to care and reflects the true cost of delivering high-quality medical services. - Support H.R. 4710/S. 2420, the No Surprises Act Enforcement Act, which would increase transparency, strengthen enforcement, and enhance guidance to improve the Independent Dispute Resolution (IDR) process.

- Support Passage of H.R. 879, the bipartisan Medicare Patient Access and Practice Stabilization Act and take action to reverse the current 2.83 percent Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MFPS) Conversion Factor (CF) reduction and provide clinicians with a positive payment update in the March 2025 appropriations bill. - Urging the U.S. House of Representatives to protect Medicaid from the devastating $880 billion Energy and Commerce Committee spending reduction target in the House Budget Resolution.

- Concerns regarding Calendar Year 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Proposal; CMS 1832-P which includes temporary relief, but no lasting solutions, and unsustainable cuts on top of eroding Medicare payments. - Urge Congress to enact legislation to extend the enhanced advance premium tax credits (APTCs) established under section 36B(b)(3)(A)(iii) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.Extending the enhanced APTCs will continue to lower premiums across income levels, mitigate financial barriers to care, and sustain enrollment in the marketplaces. Allowing them to expire would reverse these gains, increase the uninsured rate, and raise uncompensated care costs for hospitals and physician practices nationwide. - Opposition to S. 2426, the Equitable Community Access to Pharmacist Services Act (ECAPS) Act. Despite efforts to modify the text of this legislation in the 119th Congress, this bill still has numerous shortcomings, including inappropriately allowing pharmacists to perform services that would normally only be authorized and covered if they were furnished by a physician, testing and treating patients for certain illnesses and expanding Medicare payment for pharmacists in limited but significant ways.

- Urging the House Ways and Means Committee to support immediate passage of the bipartisan No Fees for EFTs Act HR 6487 that would prohibit payers from imposing fees on electronic funds transfers. - Urging Senate to seek legislation that provides a positive, stable, and predictable Medicare physician payment system. - Opposition to H.R. 1770/S. 2477, the Equitable Community Access to Pharmacist Services Act. This bill would inappropriately allow pharmacists to perform services that would otherwise be covered if they had been furnished by a physician, test and treat patients for certain illnesses and expand Medicare payment for pharmacists in limited but significant ways. - Congress should pass H.R. 6371 to achieve greater stability and predictability to the MPFS. - Congress should consider enacting S.3503/H.R. 5013, the Value in Health Care (VALUE) Act, bipartisan legislation that extends the original five percent APM incentive payments and freezes the 50 percent revenue threshold for an additional two years. - Support the Strengthening Medicare for Patients and Providers Act (HR 2474) which would be significant and needed progress toward a more viable Medicare payment system as it provides independent physician practices with greater financial stability and predictability.

- Urging the House Ways and Means Committee to support immediate passage of the bipartisan No Fees for EFTs Act HR 6487 that would prohibit payers from imposing fees on electronic funds transfers. - Urging Senate to seek legislation that provides a positive, stable, and predictable Medicare physician payment system. - Opposition to H.R. 1770/S. 2477, the Equitable Community Access to Pharmacist Services Act. This bill would inappropriately allow pharmacists to perform services that would otherwise be covered if they had been furnished by a physician, test and treat patients for certain illnesses and expand Medicare payment for pharmacists in limited but significant ways. - Congress should pass H.R. 6371 to achieve greater stability and predictability to the MPFS. - Congress should consider enacting S.3503/H.R. 5013, the Value in Health Care (VALUE) Act, bipartisan legislation that extends the original five percent APM incentive payments and freezes the 50 percent revenue threshold for an additional two years. - Support the Strengthening Medicare for Patients and Providers Act (HR 2474) which would be significant and needed progress toward a more viable Medicare payment system as it provides independent physician practices with greater financial stability and predictability.

- Urging the House Ways and Means Committee to support immediate passage of the bipartisan No Fees for EFTs Act HR 6487 that would prohibit payers from imposing fees on electronic funds transfers. - Urging Senate to seek legislation that provides a positive, stable, and predictable Medicare physician payment system. - Opposition to H.R. 1770/S. 2477, the Equitable Community Access to Pharmacist Services Act. This bill would inappropriately allow pharmacists to perform services that would otherwise be covered if they had been furnished by a physician, test and treat patients for certain illnesses and expand Medicare payment for pharmacists in limited but significant ways. - Congress should pass H.R. 6371 to achieve greater stability and predictability to the MPFS. - Congress should consider enacting S.3503/H.R. 5013, the Value in Health Care (VALUE) Act, bipartisan legislation that extends the original five percent APM incentive payments and freezes the 50 percent revenue threshold for an additional two years. - Support the Strengthening Medicare for Patients and Providers Act (HR 2474) which would be significant and needed progress toward a more viable Medicare payment system as it provides independent physician practices with greater financial stability and predictability.

- Urging the House Ways and Means Committee to support immediate passage of the bipartisan No Fees for EFTs Act HR 6487 that would prohibit payers from imposing fees on electronic funds transfers. - Urging Senate to seek legislation that provides a positive, stable, and predictable Medicare physician payment system. - Opposition to H.R. 1770/S. 2477, the Equitable Community Access to Pharmacist Services Act. This bill would inappropriately allow pharmacists to perform services that would otherwise be covered if they had been furnished by a physician, test and treat patients for certain illnesses and expand Medicare payment for pharmacists in limited but significant ways. - Congress should pass H.R. 6371 to achieve greater stability and predictability to the MPFS. - Congress should consider enacting S.3503/H.R. 5013, the Value in Health Care (VALUE) Act, bipartisan legislation that extends the original five percent APM incentive payments and freezes the 50 percent revenue threshold for an additional two years. - Support the Strengthening Medicare for Patients and Providers Act (HR 2474) which would be significant and needed progress toward a more viable Medicare payment system as it provides independent physician practices with greater financial stability and predictability.

- Urging the House Ways and Means Committee to support immediate passage of the bipartisan No Fees for EFTs Act HR 6487 that would prohibit payers from imposing fees on electronic funds transfers. - Urging Senate to seek legislation that provides a positive, stable, and predictable Medicare physician payment system. - Opposition to H.R. 1770/S. 2477, the Equitable Community Access to Pharmacist Services Act. This bill would inappropriately allow pharmacists to perform services that would otherwise be covered if they had been furnished by a physician, test and treat patients for certain illnesses and expand Medicare payment for pharmacists in limited but significant ways. - Congress should pass H.R. 6371 to achieve greater stability and predictability to the MPFS. - Congress should consider enacting S.3503/H.R. 5013, the Value in Health Care (VALUE) Act, bipartisan legislation that extends the original five percent APM incentive payments and freezes the 50 percent revenue threshold for an additional two years. - Support the Strengthening Medicare for Patients and Providers Act (HR 2474) which would be significant and needed progress toward a more viable Medicare payment system as it provides independent physician practices with greater financial stability and predictability.

- Urging the House Ways and Means Committee to support immediate passage of the bipartisan No Fees for EFTs Act HR 6487 that would prohibit payers from imposing fees on electronic funds transfers. - Urging Senate to seek legislation that provides a positive, stable, and predictable Medicare physician payment system.

- Urging the House Ways and Means Committee to support immediate passage of the bipartisan No Fees for EFTs Act HR 6487 that would prohibit payers from imposing fees on electronic funds transfers. - Urging Senate to seek legislation that provides a positive, stable, and predictable Medicare physician payment system. - Opposition to H.R. 1770/S. 2477, the Equitable Community Access to Pharmacist Services Act. This bill would inappropriately allow pharmacists to perform services that would otherwise be covered if they had been furnished by a physician, test and treat patients for certain illnesses and expand Medicare payment for pharmacists in limited but significant ways. - Congress should pass H.R. 6371 to achieve greater stability and predictability to the MPFS. - Congress should consider enacting S.3503/H.R. 5013, the Value in Health Care (VALUE) Act, bipartisan legislation that extends the original five percent APM incentive payments and freezes the 50 percent revenue threshold for an additional two years. - Support the Strengthening Medicare for Patients and Providers Act (HR 2474) which would be significant and needed progress toward a more viable Medicare payment system as it provides independent physician practices with greater financial stability and predictability.

- Urging the House Ways and Means Committee to support immediate passage of the bipartisan No Fees for EFTs Act HR 6487 that would prohibit payers from imposing fees on electronic funds transfers. - Urging Senate to seek legislation that provides a positive, stable, and predictable Medicare physician payment system. - Opposition to H.R. 1770/S. 2477, the Equitable Community Access to Pharmacist Services Act. This bill would inappropriately allow pharmacists to perform services that would otherwise be covered if they had been furnished by a physician, test and treat patients for certain illnesses and expand Medicare payment for pharmacists in limited but significant ways. - Congress should pass H.R. 6371 to achieve greater stability and predictability to the MPFS. - Congress should consider enacting S.3503/H.R. 5013, the Value in Health Care (VALUE) Act, bipartisan legislation that extends the original five percent APM incentive payments and freezes the 50 percent revenue threshold for an additional two years. - Support the Strengthening Medicare for Patients and Providers Act (HR 2474) which would be significant and needed progress toward a more viable Medicare payment system as it provides independent physician practices with greater financial stability and predictability.

- Support for HR 2474 Re: Strengthening Medicare for Patients and Providers Act. This bipartisan legislation advances the ongoing need to provide financial stability to physician practices in order to preserve access to care for Medicare beneficiaries. - Opposition to H.R. 2713, the Improving Care and Access to Nurses Act, or the I CAN Act. This legislation would endanger the quality of care that Medicare and Medicaid patients receive by expanding the scope of practice for nonphysician practitioners, including nurse practitioners, certified nurse midwives, certified registered nurse anesthetists, clinical nurse specialists, and physician assistants.

- Support for HR 2474 Re: Strengthening Medicare for Patients and Providers Act. This bipartisan legislation advances the ongoing need to provide financial stability to physician practices in order to preserve access to care for Medicare beneficiaries. - Support for HR 4473 or The Medicare Patient Access to Cancer Treatment Act of 2023. This bill is part of a multi-pronged response - one that folds in Medicare physician payment reform, site neutrality, and other changes - to disincentivize consolidation, preserve independent practice viability, and ensure patients have options when seeking care.

- Support for HR 2474 Re: Strengthening Medicare for Patients and Providers Act. This bipartisan legislation advances the ongoing need to provide financial stability to physician practices in order to preserve access to care for Medicare beneficiaries. - Opposition to H.R. 2713, the Improving Care and Access to Nurses Act, or the I CAN Act. This legislation would endanger the quality of care that Medicare and Medicaid patients receive by expanding the scope of practice for nonphysician practitioners, including nurse practitioners, certified nurse midwives, certified registered nurse anesthetists, clinical nurse specialists, and physician assistants.

- Support for HR 2474 Re: Strengthening Medicare for Patients and Providers Act. This bipartisan legislation advances the ongoing need to provide financial stability to physician practices in order to preserve access to care for Medicare beneficiaries. - Support for HR 4473 or The Medicare Patient Access to Cancer Treatment Act of 2023. This bill is part of a multi-pronged response - one that folds in Medicare physician payment reform, site neutrality, and other changes - to disincentivize consolidation, preserve independent practice viability, and ensure patients have options when seeking care.

- Opposition to H.R. 8812, the Improving Care and Access to Nurses Act, or the I CAN Act. This legislation would endanger the quality of care that Medicare and Medicaid patients receive by expanding the scope of practice for nonphysician practitioners (NPPs), including nurse practitioners (NPs), certified nurse midwives (CNMs), certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs), clinical nurse specialists (CNS), and physician assistants (PAs).

1. Lessening prior authorization barriers to healthcare through H.R. 7995, the Getting Over Lengthy Delays in Care As Required by Doctors (GOLD CARD) Act of 2022. 2. Payment parity for telemedicine under ERISA self-funded plans. 3. Providing meaningful coverage for uninsured Texans.

1. Lessening prior authorization barriers to healthcare through H.R. 7995, the Getting Over Lengthy Delays in Care As Required by Doctors (GOLD CARD) Act of 2022. 2. Payment parity for telemedicine under ERISA self-funded plans. 3. Providing meaningful coverage for uninsured Texans.

1. Lessening prior authorization barriers to healthcare through H.R. 7995, the Getting Over Lengthy Delays in Care As Required by Doctors (GOLD CARD) Act of 2022. 2. Payment parity for telemedicine under ERISA self-funded plans. 3. Providing meaningful coverage for uninsured Texans.