Report to the Congress: Medicare Payment Policy

March 2004 Report to the Congress: Medicare Payment Policy The Congress charges the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission with reviewing Medicare payment policies and making recommendations concerning them each March. The Commission's goal is for Medicare payments to cover the costs efficient providers incur in furnishing quality care to beneficiaries. If payments are set too low, providers will not want to participate in the program and Medicare beneficiaries may not continue to have access to high-quality care. If payments are set too high, taxpayers and beneficiaries will bear too large a burden . . .