Howard B. Fleishon, MD, MMM, FACR, Chair of the American College of Radiology® (ACR®) Board of Chancellors, contributed this post.
Beginning January 1, 2021, increased Medicare payments to providers who often bill using evaluation and management (E/M) current procedural terminology (CPT®) codes will result in drastic payment cuts to radiologists and other physician specialty and non-physician providers. Please know that the ACR has fought — and will continue to fight -— these Medicare changes using every means at its disposal.
The ACR has assembled a coalition of more than 50 other medical societies to urge Congress to waive the budget neutrality requirement for these E/M increases mandated by the CY 2021 Physician Fee Schedule.
Without this waiver, radiology payments will be cut by 11% next year. With the financial impact practices already face as a result of COVID-19, this action will harm providers and patient access to care.
I’d like to highlight our latest efforts to counter these ill-advised Medicare changes and let you know how you can join the fight to protect your practice and patients.
- On October 29 at 8pm ET, the ACR will host the Medicare Cuts: What You Need to Know virtual Town Hall. Join us for this one-hour event to discuss these Medicare cuts, steps the ACR has taken to counter them and actions radiologists and allied professionals can take to help avert them.
- The ACR continually updates the Radiology Cuts Due to Medicare Evaluation and Management Changes: What You Need to Know section with the latest E/M News and resources including impact tables and a detailed, radiology-specific summary highlighting the impact of the changes.
- We’re also empowering members to take part in grassroots efforts to urge their members of Congress to support the budget neutrality waiver (and avoid these cuts).
Your ACR team is committed to supporting our radiology community. We will continue the fight against these ill-advised Medicare cuts to safeguard radiology practices and ensure the highest quality of care for our patients.
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