Welcome to MattPAC*, a new Accelerators pilot concept! Radiation Oncologist Dr. Matt Spraker aims to introduce important healthcare policy concepts rooted in current events. Each show is designed to be efficient with your time and inspire you to get engaged with #RadOnc advocacy in 30 minutes or less.  In MattPAC #1, Matt covers two current congressional bills that are currently being considered for inclusion into next year's Medicare legislation: HR 2474 and HR3674. These bills seek to link Medicare physician pay to inflation and boost practice expense reimbursement for freestanding practices. The history of Medicare, administration processes, the payment formula, and sites of service are covered for context. Here are some good resources for further reading on these topics:A paper on how Medicare drove hospital desegregation, especially in the south.Power To Heal: Medicare and The Civil Rights RevolutionHow is Medicare Funded?Information about Medicare administration and procedures, WikipediaA lot of info on the RUC, AMAThe medicare physician fee schedule payment formula, MedicalBillersAndCoders.comInteresting write up of history of conversion factors, AMAMedicare payments are not keeping up with inflation, AMAFramework for Rational Medicare, AMAAMA letter to congress about these issues, March 2023AMA commends MedPAC for recognizing challenges of inflationary environment, April 2023HR 2474A Primer On Office Based Specialty Care, USPAUSPA Letter to MedPAC about threats to free standing specialty practices, such as Rad Onc2023 survey of multi-specialty practices regarding Medicare cutsHR 3674The Accelerators Podcast is a production of Photon Media, a division of Cold Light Legacy Company.*MattPAC is not a political action committee, it's just a cute name. If you'd like to support our efforts, please visit the Cold Light Legacy Company to learn more.