Physician Medicaid Letter to Congress

May 13, 2025

Dear Speaker Johnson, Minority Leader Jeffries, Majority Leader Thune, and Minority Leader Schumer:

On behalf of the undersigned medical organizations representing physicians who provide essential care for patients across the lifespan, we write today to express our deep concerns with the proposed changes to the Medicaid program currently being considered by Congress. Patient care would be threatened by proposals such as altering the federal financing structure of the Medicaid program, limiting eligibility, shifting costs to states, and increasing the administrative complexity of the program.

Medicaid is not just a safety-net program—it is a critical pillar of the American health care system. It
provides coverage to over 80 million Americans, including low-income children, pregnant patients, seniors, and people with disabilities. Patients rely on Medicaid for essential surgical and medical care, from emergency life-saving procedures to routine preventive services, including managing chronic conditions. Medicaid provides health care including mental health care coverage to people in every state, every county, and every congressional district. Our members provide care in rural, suburban, and urban communities in a variety of practice settings.

These proposals would cut off the access needed to care for our patients. Changes of the magnitude being proposed, combined with Medicare physician payment rates that have not kept pace with inflation, would result in loss of coverage and risk exacerbating hospital and practice closures, particularly in rural areas, putting lifesaving and routine care out of reach for millions of our patients.

As organizations that represent our nation’s physicians, we see firsthand how Medicaid coverage improves health outcomes and saves lives. We urge Congress to maintain coverage to assure health care access for our patients and reject the proposed changes to the program. We welcome the opportunity to work with Congress to identify sustainable strategies to strengthen the program and improve on its promise to provide high-quality coverage and access to care for populations in need, today and in the future.

Sincerely,
American Academy of Family Physicians
American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine
American Academy of Neurology
American Academy of Ophthalmology
American Academy of Pediatrics
American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
American College of Cardiology
American College of Chest Physicians
American College of Emergency Physicians
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
American College of Osteopathic Internists
American College of Physicians
American College of Rheumatology
American College of Surgeons
American Gastroenterological Association
American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society
American Osteopathic Association
American Psychiatric Association
American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy
American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery
American Society for Surgery of the Hand Professional Organization
American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons
American Society of Hematology
American Society of Nuclear Cardiology
American Society of Pediatric Nephrology
American Society of Plastic Surgeons
American Thoracic Society
American Urological Association
Association for Clinical Oncology
Association of Women in Rheumatology
College of American Pathologists
Heart Failure Society of America
HIV Medicine Association
Infectious Diseases Society of America
Medical Group Management Association
National Association of Spine Specialists
North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition
Renal Physicians Association
Society for Vascular Surgery
Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons
Society of Gynecologic Oncology
The Society of Thoracic Surgeons