AANEM Joins AMA In Opposing CMS Proposed Payment Cuts

On behalf of our members, AANEM joined other physician specialty societies in the AMA Federation in supporting an AMA letter opposing Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) proposed changes to payment for services reported with Modifier 25 in the proposed 2027 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule.

The proposal could directly affect AANEM members who provide medically necessary evaluation and management (E/M) services on the same day as an office-based procedure, including electrodiagnostic (EDX) testing.

CMS proposes to reduce payment when a physician—or another physician in the same group—provides a separately identifiable office or outpatient E/M service on the same day as a procedure with a 0-, 10-, or 90-day global period. Under the proposal, CMS would pay 100% for the highest-valued service and 50% for the other E/M service or procedure(s).

For many AANEM members, EDX testing is not a stand-alone service. Patients with neuromuscular symptoms often need a separate history, examination, medical decision-making, and discussion of results and next steps in addition to the procedure itself. These distinct services require physician time and expertise and are essential to reaching an accurate diagnosis and developing an appropriate care plan.

“For patients with neuromuscular symptoms, electrodiagnostic testing is often part of a broader evaluation requiring a separate history, examination, medical decision-making, and discussion of results and next steps," said AANEM President Lisa Hobson-Webb, MD. "Reducing payment for that distinct E/M service solely because it occurs on the same day as an EDX procedure fails to recognize the full scope of physician work and may make it harder for patients to receive timely, comprehensive care."

If finalized, the policy could reduce payment for distinct, medically necessary services provided by AANEM members, disproportionately affect office-based practices, and create disincentives for coordinated, patient-centered care. 

AANEM will continue to advocate on behalf of our members for fair payment policies that recognize the full scope of physician work and support patient access to timely, coordinated neuromuscular and electrodiagnostic care. We will work with CMS, the AMA Federation, and other stakeholders to oppose policies that could create barriers to medically necessary evaluation and treatment for patients with neuromuscular conditions.