Over the next year, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) intends to roll out a 2.8% cut in pay for physicians, detailed in the 2025 Medicare physician payment schedule. 

The proposed changes follow years of payment reductions and are putting both patients and medical professionals at risk. Data from the American Medical Association reveals that fewer doctors have accepted Medicare and Medicaid as reimbursement payments have lowered by 26% since 2001. 

As reimbursement rates face drastic cuts, Medicaid patients are losing their doctors who are deciding to no longer accept Medicare and Medicaid. These programs, which typically serve low-income and senior Americans, may force patients to seek out lower-quality care or travel longer distances to find doctors who will accept Medicare or Medicaid, according to the article.