USPA Objects to New Cuts Included in Medicare Physician Fee Schedule

 

Specialty care providers will see painful cuts to reimbursements

 

WASHINGTON, DC — Today, United Specialists for Patient Access (USPA) voiced its objection to the proposed cuts included in the 2023 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) released last week by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

 

As constituted, the MPFS will make drastic cuts to specialty care providers in the office-based setting. The proposed reimbursement reductions come on the heels of stinging cuts over the last several years, including clinical labor cuts of over 20% in 2022, which are being phased in through 2025. USPA has regularly pointed out that cuts of this magnitude are shutting down office-based specialty care, exacerbating the health care consolidation crisis and undermining health equity. 

 

 

Dr. Mark Garcia, USPA board member and CMO for American Vascular Associates, said,  “This is a case of déjà vu. Under this proposed rule change, specialists will see further cuts in 2023 on average of at least 4.5%, and in many cases up to 8%. As written, this change will undermine patient access and widen the health equity gap because office-based providers will be forced out of business. Specialists cannot continue to see dramatic cuts year after year, manage record inflation, battle COVID-19, and at the same time continue to provide quality care to patients. USPA is calling on CMS to reverse course and is asking Congress to take action to provide payment stability. ”  

 

Dr. Garcia continued, “Enough is enough. Since 2006, we have seen a consistent downward trend of cuts to office-based specialists of around 30% on average in the Physician Fee Schedule and the pandemic and record inflation have compounded the damage.  Office-based centers already have been closing in record numbers and further cuts in the PFS only will accelerate this trend and cause higher prices as patients are forced to the hospital setting for care, which can be far more costly and burdensome than the office-based lab. Congress and CMS must stop these cuts to office-based specialists!”

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 The mission of USPA is to unify and strengthen the voice of office-based specialists, enabling professionals and patient advocates to work collaboratively with Congress and the Administration to achieve near-term relief and long-term payment stability in the Physician Fee Schedule.  For more information, please click here: https://www.uspaccess.org.