Endocrine Society Weighs in on MPFS; Urges Congress to Avert Scheduled Medicare Cuts

Each year, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) releases the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) rule, which outlines the agency’s payment and quality program policies for the upcoming year. Medicare policy often sets the bar for the private insurance market as well. Therefore, the payment policies and other revisions in the MPFS are important to our members and the Society weighs in during the rulemaking process to ensure that our members’ needs are addressed.

In September, CMS released the MPFS proposed rule for 2023. The Society provided feedback to the agency about the policies related to the conversion factor, Evaluation and Management (E/M) codes, continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) coverage, and other endocrinology issues. The full comment letter is on our website.

The payment policies and other revisions in the MPFS are important to our members and the Society weighs in during the rulemaking process to ensure that our members’ needs are addressed.

In November, CMS released the MPFS final rule for 2023. The final rule includes a 4.5% reduction in the conversion factor for 2023. The rule also makes some important updates to E/M office code visits and extends some telehealth flexibilities put in place during the pandemic. There is a brief summary of the rule and its impact on endocrinologists on our webpage. (www.endocrine.org/improving-practice/macra)

Unfortunately, the proposed cut to the conversion factor is one of two cuts scheduled to go into effect on January 1, 2023. Together, these two cuts would result in an 8.5% reduction in payments to physicians. Only Congress has the power to avert these cuts and the Endocrine Society has been urging Congress to act before the end of the year.

You can join our advocacy by visiting www.endocrine.org/takeaction to participate in an online campaign and tell your elected representatives how these cuts will impact you, your practice, and your patients. Congress will not take action if it doesn’t hear from people who are affected. Join our online campaign today.