Vizient Urges Congress to Avert Damaging Payment Reductions to Healthcare Providers

IRVING, Texas, September 14, 2022 -- Today, Vizient, Inc. sent a letter to House and Senate leadership urging Congress to take action on policy priorities critical to healthcare providers as they continue to endure serious financial and workforce challenges.

In the letter, Vizient advocated that Congress take swift action to alleviate the significant fiscal challenges that providers are facing. For example, Vizient strongly urged Congress to act quickly to avert the implementation of statutory Pay-As-You-Go (PAYGO) sequestration cuts beginning in 2023. Vizient also urged Congress to prevent the Medicare physician payment reductions under the proposed Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) that are likely to be finalized for CY 2023. Combined, these automatic cuts would lead to a devastating estimated 8.4% reduction in Medicare reimbursements for hospitals and physicians unless Congress acts before the end of the year.

Additionally, Vizient stressed the importance of Congress addressing workplace violence while also supporting longer-term policies to strengthen the healthcare workforce. And, at a time when healthcare providers can ill-afford more instability, Vizient urged Congress to extend many of the flexibilities, particularly related to telehealth and the Acute Hospital Care at Home program, that will expire at the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency.

"Over the last several years, our members have provided continuous care to patients and communities, rapidly evolving to the changing environment of the COVID-19 pandemic. Without Congressional action, healthcare providers will be faced with untenable and significant payment reductions, exacerbating the existing challenges related to inflation and the increased cost of supplies and labor," said Shoshana Krilow, senior vice president of public policy and government relations for Vizient. "As we approach the end of the year, we urge lawmakers to consider advancing several pieces of legislation and take other important steps to provide financial relief and support the healthcare workforce to ensure hospitals and health systems are able to continue to deliver high-quality care."

About Vizient, Inc. 

Vizient, Inc., the nation’s largest health care performance improvement company, serves more than 50% of the nation’s acute care providers, which includes 97% of the nation’s academic medical centers, and more than 20% of ambulatory care providers. Vizient provides expertise, analytics and advisory services, as well as a contract portfolio that represents more than $130 billion in annual purchasing volume. Vizient’s solutions and services improve the delivery of high-value care by aligning cost, quality and market performance. Headquartered in Irving, Texas, Vizient has offices throughout the United States. Learn more at www.vizientinc.com.