The proposed Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Rule for 2021 was released Aug. 3 by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), revealing vascular and general surgeons face a projected 7% reduction in Medicare payments.
The rule includes proposals to updated payment policies, payment rates and quality processions for services furnished under the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) on or after Jan. 1, 2021. It takes positive steps to increase access to care through changes in Medicare policy for telehealth services, but proposes a conversion factor of $32.26, a reduction of $3.83 per Relative Value Unit (RVU)—more than 10.5%—that will reduce patients’ access to surgical care.
The SVS Policy and Advocacy Council is asking all SVS members to contact their members of Congress immediately and to consider a donation to the SVS PAC.
