Comments Pour into CMS on Medicare Physician Fee Schedule

Today is the final day to submit comments on the proposed Medicare physician fee schedule, and so far organizations representing healthcare providers have had a lot to say.

The president of the American Association of Family Physicans (AAFP) sent a 21-page letter to CMS in response to the proposed price list. AAFP Board Chair Glenn Stream praised CMS for attempting to increase payments to primary care physicians, but that more needs to be done.

CMS announced last month that the deadline for comments for the 2014 hospital outpatient prospective payment system (OPPS) and ambulatory surgical center (ASC) payment system has been extended to Monday, Sept. 16 due to errors in the original published version.

While hospitals will receive nearly a 10 percent increase beginning Jan. 1 under the OPPS and ASC, according to the proposed rule, the American Medical Association attacked the proposed fee schedule last month, leveling especially strong criticism at the recommendation that hospitals be paid less for certain services, bringing them closer to what physicians receive for the same services when provided in their offices. As part of the revised Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, hospitals will get the promised reductions in more than 200 DRG codes.