It's that time of year folks. CMS released it's proposed fee schedule for 2022

[king22]

CMS gives us a real good one here.

Calendar Year (CY) 2022 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Proposed Rule | CMS

On July 13, 2021, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a proposed rule that announces and solicits public comments on proposed policy changes for Medicare payments under the Physician Fee Schedule (PFS), and other Medicare Part B issues, on or after January 1, 2022.

www.cms.gov

Looks like we get a lovely 3.75% decrease. Do you think my malpractice carrier will decrease my premiums by 3.75%? Do you think my staff will accept a 3.75% decrease in their wages?

I'm well aware that it's not a 3.75% decrease across the board and varies from code to code (some codes actually will see an increase).

I'm also aware there is not much CMS can do- it's hands are tied by the idiotic concept of budget neutrality.

Chances are congress will stop the cuts (like they did last year and for many years before) and give everyone a little pay bump....but that brings up the question- Why don't we develop an actually sustainable way for adjusting the fee schedule instead of playing this game every year?

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[heybrother]

Will be disappointing if it happens, but we'll just have to wait and see. In the last 2 years we've seen every crazy thing:
-avoided - the idea of podiatry specific codes (would have destroyed us)
-avoided - all codes merged and just new and established (3.5 for all?)
-E&M values increased, but for me at least only applied to Medicare (and corresponding cuts elsewhere)
-outpatient E&M documentation somewhat simplified albeit still overly complicated.

I seem to recall this year had some sort of small increase that APMA claimed they fought for. I suppose I can expect an email by the end of the year praising their hardwork and asking for money.