Most Physicians Avoid Major Payment Cuts in Medicare Proposal

Most physicians, surgeons, and specialists would see only minor increases or reductions in their Medicare payment rates next year under a proposal released Tuesday by the Biden administration.

The rate reductions outlined in the proposed 2022 Medicare physician fee schedule (RIN 0938-AU42)
are due to budget neutrality provisions in the Medicare Act that require program payment hikes be offset by equal reductions elsewhere.

In 2021, the Consolidated Appropriations Act provided a “one-time, one-year increase in the Medicare physician fee schedule of 3.75%” to “provide relief during the COVID-19 public health emergency.” The legislation effectively averted a 3.75% cut in 2021 ...