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Providers are fiercely opposing changes in two CMS payment rules for 2021, decrying physician rate cuts amid the COVID-19 pandemic, pushing for more telehealth flexibility and urging a stop to a controversial plan to eliminate the list of procedures that can be done on an inpatient-only basis.
CMS released its annual proposals for the Physician Fee Schedule and Outpatient Prospective Payment System in August and official comments were due Monday. In their comments, doctor and hospital groups largely focused on what they think is needed — and what should be avoided — as the nation continues to battle the novel coronavirus, which could bring new challenges this winter.
One of CMS’ proposals is to lower the conversion factor used to calculate payment rates. The American Medical Association said that would result in a 5.5% cut to physician payment, “in the face of the pandemic that has resulted in physician practices experiencing severe reductions in revenue.”