Only You Can Stop Medicare Cuts Now | SCAI

Only You Can Stop Medicare Cuts Now

The perfect storm is brewing in Congress as Medicare fees are once again threatened by cuts proposed by CMS and the result of previous congressional action such as “budget neutrality” rules and PAYGO sequestration reductions.

In order to prevent cuts in 2022, we need to continue our efforts in 2021.

Interventional cardiologists could see immediate pay cuts to Medicare reimbursement in 2022 due to a variety of federal policies. Four main issues must be addressed by the end of this year including: 

  • The 4% Medicare sequester cut (PAYGO ACT) scheduled to be implemented in 2022 ($36B)
  • The pending -3.75% physician fee schedule (PFS) adjustment stemming from this year’s legislative phase-in of CMS' E/M code update ($3B)
  • CMS' proposed clinical labor PFS updates that are scheduled to cut some services upwards of 20% next year ($3.5B) 
  • The moratorium on the 2% Medicare sequester cut is set to expire at the end of 2021 ($3B)

Support the campaign to reform and stabilize healthcare provider payments

Congress needs to address the additional 4% Medicare cut, approximately $36B, scheduled to take effect at the end of the year resulting from the PAYGO Act budget rules that require the cost of legislation, such as the recently enacted American Recovery Act to be offset. If Congress fails to do this in time an automatic trigger will activate a significant across the board cut to Medicare. Congress has made bipartisan efforts to suspend this requirement in the past. The impact of these additional cuts on already COVID-distressed interventional cardiology practices would be devastating.

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