On July 4, President Donald Trump signed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, a sweeping federal budget bill with wide-reaching implications across healthcare. For MSK practices, this legislation brings both opportunities and challenges. It includes an increase in Medicare payments, significant cuts to Medicaid, tighter limits on medical education financing, and shifts in patient access.
Here's a breakdown of what's in the bill and why it matters to MSK practices.
A Boost in Medicare Payments
The bill includes a one-year increase of 2.5% in Medicare physician payments. This means practices may see a small rise in reimbursement during the next year. While helpful in the short run, this increase is temporary, so planning ahead will be important once it expires.
Medicaid Cuts Ahead
The bill makes significant reductions in Medicaid funding, and million of people could lose coverage. For MSK practices, this likely means more patients without insurance and a rise in uncompensated care.
Student Loan Caps for Medical Training
The bill places new limits on federal student loans. Practices could see shifts in recruitment and compensation expectations as new physicians weigh the cost of training against other career options.
Health Savings Accounts and Direct Primary Care
Patients will be allowed to use Health Savings Account (HSA) funds to pay for direct primary care fees, up to $150 per month for individuals or $300 for couples. While this doesn’t directly target orthopaedic / MSK care, it may change how patients seek routine care. That change might affect referral patterns over time.
Advocacy in Action
The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) played a key role in securing the Medicare payment provision. Their involvement shows how professional advocacy can help protect physician reimbursement.
Key Points: What This Means for MSK Practices
- Medicare relief may help in the short term, but practices will need a plan for when the increase ends.
- Medicaid reductions could lead to more uninsured patients and unpaid care, creating financial pressure.
- Loan limits may affect the pipeline of new physicians, possibly influencing hiring strategies.
- HSA changes may shift patient behavior and access to care.
- Policy advocacy remains key for protecting reimbursement and supporting practice sustainability.
How can MedVanta support MSK practices?
As healthcare laws and policies changes, MedVanta is focused on supporting MSK practices. Here are a few ways we can help:
Protecting Revenue
MedVanta helps practices make the most of Medicare’s temporary increase by improving billing accuracy, coding alignment, and claims management. This helps strengthen cash flow today while preparing for reimbursement changes in the future.
Managing Medicaid and Compliance
With more patients likely to lose coverage, practices will need clear systems for eligibility checks, patient tracking, and audit readiness. MedVanta’s compliance tools and processes help reduce the strain of uncompensated care.
Workforce Planning
New limits on medical education loans may affect recruitment. MedVanta provides workforce and compensation data across its MSK network to guide fair, competitive hiring practices.
Staying Connected to Policy
MedVanta keeps practices informed of regulatory changes and helps them stay involved in advocacy efforts. We provide updates, resources, and support so practices are not left on their own when policies shift.
Planning for Patient Access
As patients use HSAs in new ways, practices may see changes in referral patterns. MedVanta helps evaluate these shifts and plan strategies to maintain strong access to MSK care.
Moving Forward
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act brings both opportunities and challenges for orthopaedic / MSK practices. MedVanta is here to support practices through these changes with compliance guidance, financial planning tools, and advocacy resources. Contact us to learn how MedVanta can help your practice.