Maine Independent U.S. Senator Angus King is introducing a bipartisan bill to boost doctors’ pay for Medicare services.

King says reimbursement rates for physicians were last set in 1992 and have not kept up with rising costs.

He cited information from the American Medical Association showing the average Medicare reimbursement for physician services has declined roughly 33 percent since 2001 when adjusted for inflation.

Kin says the bill would preserve patient access by adjusting Medicare payments to cover more of the cost of delivering medical services.

Three Republicans and two Democrats joined King in sponsoring the bill – U.S. Senators John Boozman (R-AR), Peter Welch (D-VT), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Thom Tillis (R-NC), and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH).

“Accessible, reliable health care is essential for seniors across Maine, particularly in our rural communities where providers are already stretched thin,” said Senator King in a news release. “The Provider Reimbursement Stability Act would help ensure that Medicare providers are fairly reimbursed so they can continue delivering the full range of care that Maine seniors depend on for their healthcare needs.