Fee Schedule

CMS has released a proposed rule for the 2023 Physician Fee Schedule with some mix results for nephrologists, according to the Renal Physician Association.

The ACP said it was encouraged by many provisions outlined in the proposed Medicare Physician Fee Schedule for 2023; however, both ACP and the AMA expressed concern over cuts to physician payments, which would take effect Jan. 1.

The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission, or MedPAC, recommended no change to the physician fee schedule for 2023, a decision that the ACP and AMA described as a freezing of physician payments.

The CMS final rule regarding physician payment, clinical labor prices, critical care services and telehealth services for fiscal year 2022 has drawn mixed reactions from medical groups.

The American College of Rheumatology praised several aspects of a 2022 Medicare physician fee schedule proposed rule, including evaluation and management coding changes and the promise of greater telehealth flexibility.

Some updates to the evaluation/management codes on the 2021 Physician Fee Schedule will provide greater reimbursement to physicians and allow them to spend more time with patients, CMS and medical societies said.

The American College of Rheumatology has praised CMS for approving “long awaited” updates to cognitive care reimbursements for Medicare, increasing the amount for evaluation and management services.

The Surgical Care Coalition plans to oppose the CMS proposal of a 10.6% decrease to its 2021 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule’s conversion factor, which includes a 6% decrease to ophthalmology payments in 2021, according to a speaker.

The American College of Rheumatology on August 4 lauded CMS for a proposed rule in its 2021 Physician Fee Schedule that would place an increased value on cognitive care and expand telehealth access.