AANEM Comments on 2024 Proposed Update to Physician Fee Schedule & QPP

On August 7, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued its annual proposed rule that includes updates to payment policies, payment rates, and quality provisions for services furnished under the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule effective on or after January 1, 2024. AANEM staff drafted and submitted a 7-page comment letter that addressed all pertinent aspects of the 2,000+ page proposed rule, including calling on CMS to do everything in its power to avert drastic cuts to physician payments.

One of the biggest areas of concern in the proposed rule is the projected 3.36% reduction in the Medicare conversion factor. While the reduction is due to statutorily-mandated budget neutrality rules, AANEM urged CMS to work with Congress and the medical community to provide a positive update to the Medicare conversion factor in 2024 and in all future years to counteract the negative impacts of inflation on physicians, medical practices, and patient access to care.

The comment letter also addressed proposals to continue the expansion of telehealth, concerns with split (or shared) evaluation and management services, and various Quality Payment Program (QPP) proposals that could impact AANEM members. Please see the comment letter for more details.

Questions and comments are always welcomed by the AANEM policy department: policy@aanem.org.