Earlier this summer, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) proposed drastic cuts to the 2016 Medicare physician reimbursement rates for colonoscopy and other lower GI endoscopy procedures. AGA, ACG and ASGE are fighting for fair and accurate reimbursement for all lower endoscopy procedures, including colonoscopy.
Under the PFS proposed rule, physician work values for colonoscopy procedures are cut 13 percent on average. When coupled with proposed cuts to ambulatory surgery centers, some practices could experience reductions of up to 20 percent.
We need your help! Take action: tell CMS to reconsider the cuts
CMS needs to hear the voices of gastroenterologists throughout the country about how these cuts will affect Medicare patients and your practice. Send comments on the proposed fee schedule rule to CMS by Tuesday, September 8.
To comment:
- Visit the official federal government portal for submitting public comments on the proposed rule here.
- Copy and paste the template letter into the box labeled “Comment.”
- If interested, supplement the letter with any of your personal experiences that you want considered.
- Enter your individual contact information and press the blue “continue” button at the bottom of the page.
- Review and submit.
AGA, ACG and ASGE met with officials at CMS and argued that proposed colonoscopy reimbursement cuts were based on flawed data. Read more on the ACG Blog. The agency showed interest in taking another look at the data and we are working to schedule a follow-up meeting in late August. Stay tuned for further updates, as well as how you can engage your members of Congress for help.