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The American College of Physicians (ACP) claims the changes to payments for offices visits will benefit physicians and practices.
The organization indicated its support for the changes enacted by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to the Medicare fee schedule, noting it now better reflects the value of cognitive services.
“Medicare has long undervalued office visit services provided by internal medicine and other cognitive and primary care physicians, and CMS’s decision to move forward with higher payments for E/M services is a major step toward recognizing the importance of these services to our patients,” say Jacqueline W. Fincher, MD, MACP, president of ACP. “These changes are especially important at a time when many primary care practices in particular are under severe financial stress due to the COVID-19 pandemic and are at risk of closing their doors.”
The proposed Medicare Physician Fee Schedule for 2021 ensures that CMS’ 2019 decision to implement new and improved payment rates for evaluation and management (E/M) services will go into effect Jan. 1, according to a news release.
Read the full article from our sister publication, Medical Economics.